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Queen Elizabeth oath row

2 months ago 08th Aug 14:00

An oath to Britain's Queen Elizabeth may be dropped after it was challenged by a group of politicians.

The tradition of MPs swearing allegiance to the queen - who is the head of Parliament, the UK's legislative body - has been in place for more than 500 years.

However, 22 politicians have launched a campaign insisting their priority should be to represent the people who voted for them, not the ruling monarch.

The group believe Parliament - which comprises the House of Commons and the House of Lords - should be allowed to swear allegiance to their "constituents and the nation" instead.

constituents and the nation

Mr Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, said: "The government should say, ‘Let's have a debate, hear the arguments and see if there is a majority against changing the oath.' I don't think there would be."

The campaign has sparked outrage, with former Conservative party chairman Lord Tebbit saying: "This seems to me to be an attack upon the state itself.

"The people behind this campaign must either oppose the idea of anyone who is non-partisan having a role in the affairs of state, or they would rather be swearing allegiance to Brussels."

More about Queen Elizabeth oath row on page 2

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth

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