Page 56 - Member of Parliament Uk-handbook

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Chamber business
Swearing-in

When a new Parliament meets, the first business is the Business of the
House and its
election of a Speaker. On the day after the Speaker has been
Committees: a
elected, the Speaker-elect, and any Members who wish, go short guide
intranet.
with Black Rod to the Lords. On returning from the Lords
parliament.uk/
the Speaker takes the oath of allegiance and then Members intranet/offices-
departments/
come forward one by one to swear or affirm. The recital of
assets/business-of-
the oath or affirmation has legal effect. Members who have the-house-and-its-
not taken the oath or affirmation are unable to draw a salary cttees.pdf
and must not sit during any debate or vote in a division of
the House (once the Speaker has been elected) or they lose
their seat.

Mobile phones, pagers and electronic equipment must be
switched to silent before you enter the Chamber.

Members are called to take the oath or affirm in order of
seniority, first the Father of the House, then members of
the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet, other Privy Counsellors
and other Ministers. Other Members are then called (by
the Parliament of first entry). The Speaker announces the
timings at the start of proceedings; as the swearing-in
continues the annunciators around the House will
display the relevant details (for example: TAKING THE
OATH: MEMBERS FIRST ELECTED IN 1997-2001
PARLIAMENT).

You should be aware that the swearing-in is a televised
formal proceeding, and that anything said may be picked up
by the microphones.