By Tim Reid Westminster reporter, BBC Scotland

On the political Richter Scale, it was probably less than a 5.0 and not quite enough to cause any structural damage.

Mr Martin was not amused by events in the House

The House was, however, noticeably rattled which is - as any seismologist will tell you - and many British householders will testify this week, the sign of a light earthquake.

The epicentre seemed to be directly underneath the Speaker's chair and the quake clearly affected some more than others.

Those nearby who had been prepared to give Michael Martin their full backing, helped to drown out some of the tremors.

"Hear hear," they yelled in support as the Speaker stood up on Monday and demanded order for the first time since rumblings over his expenses broke the surface.

But the magnitude of this earthquake only really emerged inside the House when Labour's David Winnick suggested that reform of MPs' expenses, under Mr Speaker's charge, wasn't really going fast enough.

The reforms, he suggested, needed more urgency because there was a "misleading impression that we're all on the make".

That's when the early signs of a tremor became apparent. Even the Commons mice scurried for cover. Mr Martin wasn't amused.

"This house has charged me," he barked, "with a responsibility and I will carry out that duty until this house decides otherwise and that is a good thing for the reputation of this house."

'Rumblings of discontent'

So there. Mr Winnick meekly sat back in his seat. Cue more shouts of "hear hear" from other MPs keen not to be tarred with his brush and who don't want to hinder their chances of being called to take part in debates in future.

Trying to smooth things over, one loyal MP insisted that they'd never let the Speaker be forced out of his post by newspaper accusations about his wife's use of taxis or his use of official air miles.

Monday's events were as near you get to this Speaker publicly hitting the Commons roof.

And if he had got all the way up there, he may have happened across some others who managed it.

They too had come to protest about the use of air miles, though not Mr Martin's in particular - just everyone's, especially the government's.

Protesters unfurled banners on the roof of Parliament

The group had managed to avoid parliament's new security arrangements, letting themselves out onto the roof of the Palace of Westminster, without raising so much as an eyebrow.

Once in position, they spent three hours launching paper aeroplanes into the palace yard below in protest at the expansion of Heathrow airport, too many flights and what they claim is a sham consultation exercise being carried out by the government.

Their stunt caused the week's second quake in the Westminster village.

MPs have been left shuddering at the ease with which the protesters evaded the security systems and in addition, are concerned at the suspicion that someone on the inside may have helped them.

To top the week off, whilst outsiders were getting into the Commons, insiders were getting out.

The rumblings of discontent on the Liberal Democrat benches at their treatment by the Speaker in the Treaty of Lisbon debate, caused "outrage" at least among themselves.

So much so that the frontbencher, Ed Davey, was kicked out for disobeying the chair.

He was obediently followed out of the chamber by every other Lib Dem, apart from their youngest, Jo Swinson who was left to hold the fort.

But private talks with the Speaker may have resolved at least some of their concerns.

The full extent of these political quakes may not yet be fully realised.