MP makes oath to King's heirs at second attempt

Clive Lewis MP has had to take the oath of allegiance for a second time in the House of Commons in order to sit as an MP

A Labour MP has said all elected members should be allowed to take their seat in Parliament without swearing allegiance to the King and his heirs.

Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, returned to the House of Commons to swear allegiance for a second time, this time including the line about King Charles' "heirs and successors", which he omitted when giving his original oath last week.

He said he had been informed by the parliamentary office that he might not be able to speak in the House of Commons, vote or receive a salary, and could face a by-election if legal action was brought against him under the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866.

Mr Lewis, a republican, said it was "ironic that I could be elected by thousands of people", but not be allowed to take his seat unless he made the full oath.

Mr Lewis was advised he may be fined £500 every time he spoke in the Commons because he had not pledged to serve the King and his heirs

A week ago the Labour MP opened his affirmation in the Commons by saying: "I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic [a state without a monarchy].

"Until that time I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, according to law."

The full affirmation also includes "his heirs and successors" after mention of the King.

But on Tuesday, Mr Lewis said: "I was elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability, to defend democracy and uphold human rights and one day I hope all Members of Parliament will be entitled to swear an oath of allegiance based on those values.

"I do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law."

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Lewis said the obligation to swear an oath to the monarch's heirs showed "the institutional power they have is real".

"People say it's just a figurehead [the monarch], but at moments like this it shows that being elected by thousands... can be subverted by an oath to a monarch," he said.

He said MPs should be allowed not to have to swear an oath of allegiance to the monarchy, but to "values such as the constitution, country, human rights and democracy".

Mr Lewis acknowledged that he had sworn to serve queen and country when he served in the armed forces, which included three months in Afghanistan.

He said the present situation as an MP was different, as when he was in the Army he was not a democratically elected representative, and now he "wanted to make a principled stand".

"Why can't we discuss the monarchy and democracy without being referred to as treasonous or a traitor?" he asked.

Mr Lewis has written about his republican beliefs in The Guardian.