Tributes have been paid to Michael Martin, former Glasgow MP and ex Speaker of the House of Commons, who died aged 72.

He progressed from a teenage apprentice metal worker to one of the highest offices in politics.

Raised in Anderston, he endured the snobbery of a London media and political elite for years for his background and Glasgow accent, ignorantly labelling him ‘Gorbals Mick’.

Mr Martin was an MP in Glasgow first for Springburn from 1979 and then Glasgow North East when the seat was renamed in 2005.

He entered politics from a Labour trade union background serving as a councillor then MP.

He became the first Roman Catholic Speaker of the House since the Reformation in 2000, taking over from Betty Boothroyd.

However, he was also the first speaker to be forced to resign, in 2009 for his role in the MPs expenses scandal.

The current Glasgow North East MP, Paul Sweeney, said Mr Martin was “kind and compassionate”.

Mr Sweeney said: “Throughout his long career as a councillor on the Glasgow Corporation and then as the local MP for Springburn, spanning seven General Elections from 1979 to 2009, his steadfast dedication to representing his constituents remained a constant hallmark of his commitment to public service.

"In particular, Michael helped to pioneer the modern Housing Association movement in Glasgow, which has improved the quality of life for many Glaswegians over the years.

“Michael epitomised all that was good about the Labour movement and the opportunity that it has offered for the advancement of working class people over the last century, overcoming the relentless metropolitan class snobbery and disdain from a section of the press that seemed to be offended by the election of a Glasgow sheet metal worker and trade unionist to the highest office of our Parliament.”

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she was “very sorry” to hear of Mr Martin’s death.

Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, said: “He was a thoroughly decent man who never deserved the storm of press prejudice that often came his way. He also met the fundamental requirement of any Speaker, absolute fairness in the chair.”

Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: “No matter the position he occupied he never forgot the debt he owed to his upbringing and the people he had been elected to serve.”