- Clive Lewis is thought to be the first MP to have to retake the oath of allegiance
A former Labour frontbencher embarrassingly had to pledge allegiance to the King again today after taking an anti-monarchy swipe first time around.
Clive Lewis was ridiculed for saying he was affirming 'under protest' as he was sworn back in to Parliament last week in the wake of the election.
However, Mr Lewis was later warned by the Commons authorities that he faced fines and even losing his seat unless he repeated the full wording - including promising loyalty to the King's 'heirs and successors'.
The bashful Norwich South MP returned to the House this morning to avert the prospect of challenges under an 1866 law, but still moaned that politicians should not be made to honour the crown.
The Parliamentary authorities give politicians a fair amount of latitude when swearing in, and it is rare to be obliged to try again. But they legally have to speak the core phrases in order to sit in the Commons.
Mr Lewis previously 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.
'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.'
Mr Lewis returned to the House with the last batch of MPs being sworn in this morning, saying he was 'elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability, to defend democracy and uphold human rights'.
'One day I hope all members of Parliament will be entitled to swear an oath of allegiance based on those values.'
However, he proceeded to say: '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.'
The former British Army officer has long made clear his anti-monarchist views, having called for a referendum on the monarchy in 2020 when he ran to succeed Mr Corbyn as leader - coming last in the election.
Clive Lewis had to pledge allegiance to the King again today after taking an anti-monarchy swipe first time around
He returned to the House with the last batch of MPs being sworn in this morning, saying he was 'elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability, to defend democracy and uphold human rights'
Mr Lewis was apparently told his previous wording (pictured) was not good enough
Mr Lewis said he was warned by the Commons authorities that he faced fines and even losing his seat unless he repeated the full wording - including promising loyalty to the King's 'heirs and successors'.
The bashful Norwich South MP returned to the House this morning to avert the prospect of challenges under an 1866 law, but still moaned that politicians should not be made to honour the crown
Writing on X after his appearance this morning, Mr Lewis said: 'After omitting to swear allegiance to King Charles' 'heirs and successors' last week, I've had to take the oath again in order to sit in the House of Commons. The majority of the public are committed to democracy, and so I hope one day MPs can swear an oath based on those values.'
He posted a photo of the letter he received from the House of Commons Journal Office which said his omission of part of the oath meant there was 'doubt about whether the manner in which you made the affirmation is legally valid'.
Mr Lewis wrote: 'If I had not re-sworn the oath, then based on a law from 1866, I could be fined, subjected to legal action, and my seat 'shall be vacated in the same manner as if (I) were dead'.
'This should change, so MPs have the choice to swear allegiance to our constituents and democracy.'
Last week Mr Lewis joined his former boss Jeremy Corbyn - now an independent MP after being expelled from Labour - in criticising the oath they have to take to be loyal to the crown.
Mr Corbyn, 75, was caught on camera on Tuesday referring to the oath as 'a load of nonsense' as he queued up to take it.
And new SNP MP Seamus Logan, whose party wants an independent Scotland, prefaced his oath yesterday by saying: 'I'm a polite nationalist, and I will say these words to the people of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, who'll know where my loyalties lie.'
The seven Sinn Fein Irish nationalist MPs refuse to take the oath and therefore do not sit in the Commons, receive the salary, or vote - though they are able to claim expenses.
Fellow nationalists the SDLP MPs Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna were among those to make clear they were affirming allegiance to the King in order to do their job as MPs.
Party leader Mr Eastwood said: 'I read out this empty formula in order to represent my constituents but it's under protest.'
Ms Hanna said: 'In friendship and in hope of a reconciled new Ireland, my allegiance is to the people of Belfast South and Mid Down and I say these words in order to serve them.'
Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts, Llinos Medi, Ann Davies and Ben Lake chose to take the oath and pledged their allegiance to the Crown in Welsh.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty was first MP of this Parliament to take his oath in Welsh.
The wearing-in process started on Tuesday, with the last of the 643 MPs going through today.
Mr Corbyn, 75, was caught on camera referring to the oath as 'a load of nonsense' as he queued up to take it.
And new SNP MP Seamus Logan, whose party wants an independent Scotland, prefaced his oath by saying: 'I'm a polite nationalist, and I will say these words to the people of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, who'll know where my loyalties lie.'
