Mr Bellingham was said to have been taking pictures

In the middle of Treasury questions Michael Martin told Tory MP Henry Bellingham to leave the chamber.

He said: "I understand the honourable gentleman is using a camera... he shouldn't even be using a mobile phone - I ask him to leave."

But the Norfolk North West MP told BBC News Online that he had not been taking photos - just checking who had called.

Tough Speaker?

He said: "I got a red card. I've got a digital mobile phone with a camera and I was just playing with it in the Chamber checking who'd rung in.

"It's a bit bulky - it's very obvious you can take pictures with it but I would have had to stand up and point it.

"I think Michael Martin's being very tough at the moment so one's just got to be very careful."

The MP said he had been spotted by one of the clerks "who had nothing better to do than to sneak on him" to the Speaker.

Mr Bellingham became prominent over the case of constituent Tony Martin who killed a burglar.