The three-day swearing in ceremony for MPs in the new parliament has proved a remarkably popular watch, with the oath of allegiance to the King spoken in English, Welsh, Scottish, Gaelic, Irish and Kernewek, on a wide variety of texts including the Bible, Quran, Bhagavad Gita, Sundar Gutka, Tanakh – and none.
The latest tally of MPs’ religious affiliations, outside Christianity, is 12 Sikh, 25 Muslim, 9 Hindu and 14 Jewish. Humanists UK says 40 per cent took an affirmation without swearing on a sacred text – that leaves almost 60 per cent taking the oath on some version of the Bible. But to add confusion, not all religiously affiliated MPs swore on their holy book and at least one known atheist and eight humanists swore on the Bible.
How is religion part of the sacred oath of allegiance, where MPs promise to “be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law”? And is the solemn oath, with whatever words, sufficient to secure basic honesty and trust among our MPs? Leo Devine watched practically every second of the ceremony and discussed the story with guests Paul Kerensa, retired Clerk at the Commons Frank Cranmer, and theologian Sister Gemma Simmonds.
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