MICHAEL Martin, the former sheet metal worker who became the first Catholic Speaker of the House of Commons since the Reformation, has died at the age of 72.

He was the Labour MP for Glasgow Springburn and Glasgow North East for three decades, from 1979 to 2009, and was Speaker for his last nine years in the Commons.

He resigned at the height of the MPs’ expenses scandal after being seen as a defender of the status quo, and then moved to the House of Lords as Baron Martin of Springburn. 

He was the first Commons speaker to be forced to step down since 1695.

Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon, Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond and were among many politicians who paid tribute to him after the news was announced by his family.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said Lord Martin had been an “authentic working class voice” in Westminster for many years. 

Lord Martin’s son, Paul Martin, who was a Labour MSP in Glasgow for 12 years, said his father passed away on Sunday morning after a short illness.

He said: “He passed away peacefully, with his family. We would be grateful for our privacy to be respected at this difficult time."

Born in 1945, the son of a merchant seaman and a school cleaner, Lord Martin was raised in Anderston in Glasgow, and became an apprentice metal worker at 15.

After joining the Labour Party at 21, he went on to become a union shop steward.

He was elected as a Glasgow councillor in 1973, and as an MP six years later.

After becoming Speaker in 2000, he made some modest reforms, such as wearing dark flannel trousers instead of tights, and hired a PR adviser.

But his traditional side came to the fore in the MPs expenses scandal, when he tried to block publication of extravagant claims and called for a police investigation into them being leaked.

Facing a possible no confidence vote, he quit as Speaker and as an MP “for the sake of unity” in May 2009, and was controversially given a peerage three months later.

Mr Corbyn said: “Very sorry to hear of the death of Michael Martin. We first met as organisers in the National Union of Public Employees, campaigning for decent public sector pay and the national minimum wage. Michael loved his community and family.”

Mr Leonard said: “I am saddened to hear the news of Michael Martin's passing. 

"He was an authentic working-class voice in Parliament for many years. 

“He never forgot where he came from, the community he served and the trade union movement, which gave him his education. My thoughts are with his family at this time."

Former Scotland Office minister and Labour MSP Lord Foulkes of Cumnock added: “Michael was a good friend, a fine man and a diligent MP. 

“He rose from humble beginnings to one of the highest offices any commoner can achieve and was a good Speaker, although much maligned unfairly by sections of the media.”

John Bercow, who succeed Mr Martin as Speaker, said he had been a “decent, public spirited man who had a real care and concern” for MPs and their staff.

He said: “He was a good campaigner and both passionate about and proud of his roots. He also had a great sense of humour. On a personal level, he was always very kind to me - I still remember the lovely letter of congratulations he sent to me after my election as Speaker.”

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Lord Martin would be “sorely missed”.

He said: “No matter the position he occupied, he never forgot the debt he owed to his upbringing and the people he had been elected to serve.”

Former First Minister Alex Salmond said: “He was a thoroughly decent man who never deserved the storm of press prejudice which often came his way. He also met the fundamental requirement of any Speaker - absolute fairness in the chair.” 

Paul Sweeney, who is now the Labour MP for Glasgow North East, said his predecessor had been unfairly treated by the London media, who had dubbed him ‘Gorbals Mick’.

He said: “Michael epitomised all that was good about the Labour movement and the opportunity that it has offered for the advancement of working-class people over the last century, overcoming the relentless metropolitan class snobbery and distain from a section of the tabloid press that seemed to be offended by the election of a Glasgow sheet metal worker and trade unionist to the highest office of our Parliament.” 

Nicola Sturgeon added: “Very sorry to hear of the death of former Glasgow MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin. My condolences to his family.”

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who made her political debut in the byelection following his resignation as an MP, said: “Very sorry to hear that Michael Martin has died. I fought the by election sparked by his resignation as speaker. He was well kent at every door. My thoughts are with his family.” 

Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, added: “On my maiden speech in the Commons, Michael Martin kindly indulged and protected my use of Gaelic, making the 2005 moment the longest I think any Celtic language ever used in a Commons' speech. RIP.”