He became a controversial figure after the spotlight was shone on his office expenses during the 2009 MP's expenses scandal and was the first Speaker of the House of Commons forced to resign in 300 years. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-martin-mp-death-commons-speaker-expenses-scandal-labour-trade-union-a8329981.html

He may or may not have forgotten his working class roots, and his Achilles heel may have been his wife, whom the general public did not look upon favourably when the couple's lavish expenditure came to light. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/4862994/Speaker-Michael-Martin-took-wife-on-taxpayer-funded-trips-to-Hawaii-and-Bahamas.html