Keir Starmer has been urged to “withdraw the whip” from one of his newly elected MPs after they took the member’s oath “under protest”.
Clive Lewis, who was re-elected to the Norwich South seat with 21,484 votes and a hefty majority of 13,239, took his oath of office on Wednesday but sparked fury from campaign groups with an impromptu addition to the parliamentary vow.
As Lewis stood before the despatch box, the 52-year-old made a verbal objection to swearing allegiance to King Charles.
He 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.”
Keir Starmer told to 'immediately' oust Clive Lewis from Labour Party after making ‘disgraceful’ anti-monarchy protest
Commons TV
Posting later about the process, Lewis tweeted: “To be sworn in as an MP, you have to make an oath to the King.
“This is what I decided to say, in protest.”
His words at the despatch box sparked fury from pro-monarchy groups with one calling for Kier Starmer to “immediately” boot Lewis from the Labour Party.
The Royalists campaign group wrote on X: “Clive’s actions today undermine our constitutional traditions.
“Labour should withdraw the whip immediately.
“This man should not represent the party of Government.”
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Keir Starmer has been told to 'immediately withdraw the whip' from Clive Lewis
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Lewis was not the only MP to have an issue with the affirmation, as Jeremy Corbyn was caught saying, “This is such a load of nonsense” ahead of his swearing-in.
Social media users were also frustrated by Lewis’s protest, one user wrote: “The absolute state of Clive Lewis.
“Turning an oath into an attention-seeking display. If you can’t be respectful to age-old traditions, don't be an MP.”
However, others disagreed. Veteran journalist David Osland wrote on X: “Clive Lewis took the parliamentary oath to the king under protest and Jeremy Corbyn rightly described it as 'nonsense'.
“Republican MPs should no more have to pledge allegiance to the monarchy than Muslim or atheist MPs should have to swear on the Bible.”
The practice, which is made by holding the sacred text in their uplifted hand and saying the words of the oath, is a legal requirement with MPs banned from speaking in debates, voting or receiving their salary until they do so.
According to the Parliamentary website, any MP or Member of the House of Lords who objects to swearing an oath “can make a solemn affirmation, which omits the religious references, instead”.
Although the religious aspect of the oath may be omitted the website does not make clear the rules about refusing to swear loyalty to the Royal Family.
Jeremy Corbyn caught whispering 'this is such a load of nonsense' ahead of MP's oath
Lewis has been a vocal critic of the Royal Family and has previously made clear his views about the monarchy.
He wrote on X back in May: “Our monarchy isn't a social glue.
“It's a gilded veneer, that makes grotesque disparities of wealth and power seem normal.
“160. That's how many laws the Royal Family have exempted themselves from.
“Since Parliament refuses to rein in the Monarch, tell King Charles: rule out Royal exemptions.”
He then encouraged his followers to sign and share an anti-royal petition.
GB News has approached the Labour Party for comment.
