WELWYN HATFIELD MP Grant Shapps has welcomed the resignation of Speaker Michael Martin, but said all politicians need to clean up their acts to regain the trust of the public, badly damaged by sensational revelations of MPs' expenses.

Telling the Review he would probably have voted to oust Mr Martin had he not stepped down on Tuesday, he said: “The Speaker going is a step in the right direction towards sorting these problem out, but all MPs are responsible- clearly some more than others.

“Some of the proposals he and the party leaders have announced take us in the right direction, but we need to go further still.

“All MPs' expenses should go online as soon as they are made. That way we let in fresh air and light and it would soon stop the worst abuses.”

Since last week, details of all expenses claimed by Mr Shapps and other Shadow Cabinet members have been online at conservatives.com or shapps.com.

Next month the House of Commons will publish online details of all his claims for the “additional costs allowance”, which, since he is the first Welwyn Hatfield MP not to have a second home in London, consist of hotel bills when staying in London for late Westminster work or elsewhere around the country in his role of Shadow Housing Minister.