Well, well, well, constitutional monarchy looks set to continue after all – despite the best efforts of Labour’s Clive Lewis. The MP for Norwich South was forced to swear in to parliament for a second time after his first attempt didn’t quite, er, cut the mustard…
Last Wednesday, Lewis drew attention to himself when he omitted to swear allegiance to King Charles and his ‘heirs and successors’, instead remarking: ‘I take this oath under protest, and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.’ That’s not quite how it works, Clive…
It has now transpired that the parliamentary office sent Lewis a letter later that day warning him that he could be liable for legal action, endless fines and even a by-election under the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, if he didn’t ‘remake the affirmation in the words prescribed by law’. Crikey. MPs are also unable to participate in debates, vote or get paid until they swear in.
Lewis didn’t quite fancy facing those repercussions and duly rejoined the back of the queue earlier today. The Labour man seemed rather miffed at having to read it all out a second time, but just about made it through the ‘heirs and successors’ bit correctly. His lefty colleagues in the background could hardly contain their smirks as they watched the Norwich MP being forced to toe the line. A coup now looks unlikely this session, as both Lewis – and, to the Labour MP’s obvious displeasure – the King remain in place.
Watch Lewis’ first attempt here:
And his second…
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