London ? For the first time in three centuries, the speaker of the House of Commons has resigned — the biggest casualty in a widening scandal in which lawmakers expensed such things as installing a chandelier or cleaning a moat at a country home.

Michael Martin took just 30 seconds Tuesday to break with centuries of convention, announcing that in the interest of maintaining unity in Parliament’s lower house, he would leave his prestigious post by June 21.

“That is all I have to say on this matter,” Martin said softly in his Scottish accent, swiftly calling the house to order and moving on to other business. Lawmakers who had crowded the chamber to hear the historic announcement filed out, surprised that such a moment was over in a flash.

The rest of Britain will likely not move on so easily. Since details of lawmakers’ expenses became public earlier this month, the public’s anger has intensified.

Claims have included such mundane items as cookies and pet food to more costly ones such as a chandelier installation, cleaning of a moat and even mortgage payments.