[kbennkc]

Off with their heads !

[rbg81]

Do their constituents happen to be Muslims?

[Aussie Dasher]

Bloody clowns!!!

[Always Right]

That’s OK, Obama wants to ditch the oath to this country.

[frankiep]

Sounds reasonable to me. But then again I don’t see the point in having a state sanctioned caste system where a single family, by virtue of their being born, gets to live in unimaginable luxury and have their every need and wanted tended to all at taxpayer expense. Of course though, I am not British so maybe I’m not supposed to understand it.

[FFranco]

Good, there is no role for monarchy in a modern democracy.

[dr_who]

Just become a republic already.

[Cicero]

Don’t they at least have to throw some tea in the harbor and have a revolution first?

[BenLurkin]

Who or what are they loyal to?

[The KG9 Kid]

I almost had an opinion about the topic of this thread, but then I just decided to shrug and turn the page.

[SunkenCiv]

[self-ping]

[americanophile]

They ought to just get rid of the Queen while they're at it...or course we're all republicans here. It seems to me particularly sad to have to take an oath to this queen...a woman who has the capacity to do infinite good in the world vis-a-vis her status, but chooses to do absolutely nothing. The Queen could be traveling the world working to help humanitarian causes, promote Western ideals and values, and be a force for good in the world...instead she sits in her palaces with not a care in the world. At very least she ought to dismiss the miscreant Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, as she alone is empowered to do. If England must have a monarch, we should hope for one with a better sense of his/her English heritage, his/her unique role as the head of the Church of England, and a true sense of noblesse oblige in the modern world. To whom much is given, much is expected.

[Humble Servant]

” Irish republicans have always rejected the historic oath and so are unable to take their seats in the Chamber. “

Erin go breá!

[SunkenCiv]

Sir Thomas More flashback.

Currently, MPs must take the oath at the start of a new parliament, swearing on a bible or an equivalent sacred text. Much amended down the centuries, the current wording is: "I [name] swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God." Those with no religion, or those like Quakers whose religion makes oaths objectionable, are able to affirm.

The Parliament could just get rid of the whole royalist appendix, but then Britain would lose a major source of tourist interest.

The coalition is campaigning for an alternative oath allowing MPs to, "swear allegiance to their constituents and the nation and to pledge to uphold the law, rather than one pledging personal allegiance to the serving monarch."

This is really interesting:

Peter Bottomley, the former Conservative Transport Minister, said he would support a proposal for the oath to be made voluntary... Irish republicans have always rejected the historic oath and so are unable to take their seats in the Chamber.

Why can't they be more like us, and have an elected lawmaking body which is sworn in with oaths, but don't actually take the oaths seriously? I mean, to borrow one from Sam Kinison, someone should be doing rimshots during the vows.

However Geoffrey Cox, Tory MP for Torridge and West Devon said: "This is an act of uncomprehending constitutional vandalism. The Queen is the centre of the British constitution."

Great that this came up as the Labour majority is falling apart, eh?

Republican sentiment among MPs has grown steadily, and there have been previous calls for modernisation of the oath. One occasion the MP for Bolsover murmured: "I can't swear allegiance to a Queen who refuses to pay taxes."

Hey, the Queen should be having her money taken away for her own good, just like the rest of the Britons.

[weegie]

Good - As a UK citizen, If I was to run for political office, I would have to swear allegiance to group of inbred Germans to whom I feel no loyalty, no affection or connection of any kind. I would also be lending credence to an antiquated caste system which appalls my democratic instinct.

Not a very good start to begin political life by publicly betraying your principles

[krb]

One occasion the MP for Bolsover murmured: "I can't swear allegiance to a Queen who refuses to pay taxes."

I thought the Queen started paying taxes after her "Annus horribilis"?