The following are editorial opinions from newspapers from around the world which may be of interest to Royal Gazette readers.

London Telegraph,–on Commons speaker's departure

The resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker marks the latest stage of a very British revolution. While his departure has been precipitated by his fumbling and inadequate response to this newspaper's disclosures about (members' of Parliament) expenses, it reflects a collapse of public faith in the political system that has been evident for some time.

... In a characteristically British way, we have all put up with this for far too long — there have been no marches, no riots, no clashes with the police. The public has now decided it is time for change: its fury has forced apologies, repayments, suspensions and resignations; constituency parties are threatening deselections; MPs are voluntarily deciding to stand down; the Speaker has been forced out, for the first time in 300 years. ...

Even that, however, does not explain why his resignation is necessary. There have been poor Speakers in the past whose demise has been hastened by a visit from the men in suits; there have been unpopular ones; there have been corrupt ones.

It has always been said that the institution is greater than the office holder, and its gravitas must therefore be maintained at all costs. It is, then, a measure of the constitutional crisis now consuming Westminster that rebuilding the integrity of the Commons is only possible with a new Speaker at the helm.

Pensacola News Journal, Florida,–on politics and the issue of torture

The Democrats can't have it both ways on torture. Neither can the Republicans.

So let's get it all out on the table and see who knew what, when.

Republicans, on the defensive about torture committed during the Bush years, and worried about what might come out, have gone on the offensive. They claim congressional Democrats knew a lot more than they are willing to admit, and that if a housecleaning is in order, the Democrats deserve their share of the blame.

We wholeheartedly agree.

If Democratic leaders went along with the administration's policies without doing everything they could to block it, they deserve to be called on it. ...

But it raises another disturbing point. Congress practically has been stripped of its ability to check a rogue presidency by the executive branch's ability to cite national security. We've seen the same thing in court, where if the government brandishes a "national security" consideration, apparently even the most heinous actions — including disregard of the law — can be covered up.

Well, to paraphrase an old saying, expose them all and let the voters — and perhaps the courts — sort them out.