The independent appointments commission has warned that elevating the speaker, Michael Martin to the Lords could damage its reputation.

Speakers are normally appointed to the Lords without question but the commission voiced its concerns about the 'propriety of the individual' and claimed that his presence could 'diminish' the upper house.

"We have a lot of hungry Lords to feed. Since the Times reported that our peers were willing to amend laws on behalf of clients for £100K, there has not been enough business to go around - Everyone wants a piece of the action. The last thing we want is 'Gorbals Mick' muscling in and starting a turf war."

But a spokesman for the government said, "What's good enough for the commons is good enough for the Lords. Why should the commons be the only house to have its reputation diminished."