The British Parliament's expenses scandal has claimed its first high-profile scalp: House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin will today announce his resignation, marking the first time in over 300 years that the holder of that office has been forced out. Martin, a Labour member, is widely hated by almost everyone for his rough edges, resistance to reform, and (to some degree) his lower-class background, and it is hoped by the political class that his forced exit will draw a line under the scandal, which it almost certainly will not. (Here is a great related story on how the scandal became public: "Rebuffed by two papers and ­maybe unhappy with a third (there were no ­more revelations in the Sunday Express) the seller approached the Telegraph, demonstrating again his ­amateurism by simply calling the newsdesk.") This has been another edition of Things From England That Interest Alex Balk, thanks for reading.