Why MSPs WON'T swear new oath of allegiance to King Charles - but MPs will

SNP MP Steven Bonnar, left, crossed his fingers while swearing in. Douglas Ross took his oath in the Scottish manner at Holyrood

WHEN the House of Commons returns after a period of mourning for the Queen, MPs will swear a new oath, pledging allegiance to King Charles III.

But their colleagues in Holyrood will not be required to do so because of a minor difference in protocol.

The last time a monarch died, the Scottish Parliament had been closed for 245 years and so Holyrood has different rules for the procedures around the event.

Since the Queen was crowned in 1952, members being sworn in after an election have made an oath, pledging “true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God”.

Karen Adam took her oath in sign language in 2021

This wording is exactly the same in Scotland, where the Scottish Parliament believes the caveat of “her heirs and successors” is sufficient to cover MSPs having taken their oaths following last year’s election.

But the House of Commons takes a different view. A research paper about the death of a monarch, published on Thursday, said: “In the event of a Demise of the Crown, all Members of both Houses of Parliament may again take the oath of allegiance.

“Although there is no statutory obligation for either House to do so, it has become the custom.”

The initial swearing-in process for MPs usually takes around two hours with most members being sworn in on the first day of a sitting parliament.

English MPs typically swear their oath by holding a sacred text in an uplifted hand, will reciting the pledge.

But all members have the option of swearing in in the “Scottish manner”, in which one hand is uplifted but is not holding the sacred book.

If members choose to kiss the book, their oath is changed slightly to: “I [name of Member] do swear 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.”

Oaths can be taken in Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish.

The Gaelic oath reads: “Tha mi a' mionnachadh air DIA UILECHUMHACHDACH gum bi mi dìleas agus daingeann d'a Mòrachd, a' Bhan-Rìgh Ealasaid, a h-Oighrean agus ladsan a thig na h-Aite, a'rèir an Lagha. DIA gam chuideachadh.”

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “When MSPs take their oath or affirmation, they swear to be ‘faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her heirs and successors’.  

“For that reason, MSPs will not require to retake their oath or affirmation following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.”