Labor MP Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, was forced to take the oath of allegiance in the Commons for a second time after his initial attempt was ruled invalid due to incorrect wording. The MP had initially failed to pledge allegiance to the “heirs and successors of King Charles”, a requirement by law, and was warned of possible legal action and a £500 fine if he did not rectify his mistake.
The oath is a compulsory process for MPs and members of the House of Lords, requiring them to swear allegiance to the Crown before they can officially take their seats in parliament. This tradition, which dates back to 1866, allows members to swear using a religious text or make a solemn, non-religious affirmation. However, the pledge must be made to the King.
Lewis, a well-known critic of the monarchy, had initially said: “I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.” He had omitted the words “heirs and successors” in his first attempt, raising doubts about the validity of his claim.
In his second oath, Lewis declared: “I was elected to parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability to defend democracy and defend human rights and one day I hope that every member of parliament have the right to swear an oath of loyalty based on these values.” He then duly swore his allegiance to King Charles, his heirs and successors.
After successfully taking the oath, Lewis expressed his hope that parliamentarians could one day take an oath based on democratic values. He also highlighted the potential consequences of not taking the oath again, including fines, legal action and the loss of his seat, based on the 1866 law. He concluded by advocating a change to allow MPs to swear loyalty to their constituents and democracy.
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