What is the meaning of grabbing the mace in the British parliament?
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22
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I gather from this tweet that grabbing the mace laying on the table of the British House of Commons is an act of protest and has some kind of significance.
What significance does this gesture have?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
I gather from this tweet that grabbing the mace laying on the table of the British House of Commons is an act of protest and has some kind of significance.
What significance does this gesture have?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
1
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
1
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
I gather from this tweet that grabbing the mace laying on the table of the British House of Commons is an act of protest and has some kind of significance.
What significance does this gesture have?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
I gather from this tweet that grabbing the mace laying on the table of the British House of Commons is an act of protest and has some kind of significance.
What significance does this gesture have?
united-kingdom parliament
united-kingdom parliament
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
edited 3 hours ago
blahdiblah
1052
1052
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
asked 15 hours ago
Federico
3,62932448
3,62932448
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
1
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
1
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
1
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
1
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
1
1
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
1
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
1
1
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some kind of protest by grabbing it, but they always seem to look a bit foolish as a result, and it never accomplishes anything except for a bit of light-relief in the news headlines.
I have also known MPs that have committed some kind of parliamentary misdemeanour to be made to "apologise to the mace".
Update: asked to clarify "what does the gesture mean?"
The gesture has no defined or agreed meaning. The only meaning is whatever was in the head of the person who grabbed the mace. In the most recent case he did explain afterwards why he had done it - something about the government having lost its privilege to rule - but I think it would be a different reason every time.
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some kind of protest by grabbing it, but they always seem to look a bit foolish as a result, and it never accomplishes anything except for a bit of light-relief in the news headlines.
I have also known MPs that have committed some kind of parliamentary misdemeanour to be made to "apologise to the mace".
Update: asked to clarify "what does the gesture mean?"
The gesture has no defined or agreed meaning. The only meaning is whatever was in the head of the person who grabbed the mace. In the most recent case he did explain afterwards why he had done it - something about the government having lost its privilege to rule - but I think it would be a different reason every time.
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some kind of protest by grabbing it, but they always seem to look a bit foolish as a result, and it never accomplishes anything except for a bit of light-relief in the news headlines.
I have also known MPs that have committed some kind of parliamentary misdemeanour to be made to "apologise to the mace".
Update: asked to clarify "what does the gesture mean?"
The gesture has no defined or agreed meaning. The only meaning is whatever was in the head of the person who grabbed the mace. In the most recent case he did explain afterwards why he had done it - something about the government having lost its privilege to rule - but I think it would be a different reason every time.
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
up vote
25
down vote
accepted
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some kind of protest by grabbing it, but they always seem to look a bit foolish as a result, and it never accomplishes anything except for a bit of light-relief in the news headlines.
I have also known MPs that have committed some kind of parliamentary misdemeanour to be made to "apologise to the mace".
Update: asked to clarify "what does the gesture mean?"
The gesture has no defined or agreed meaning. The only meaning is whatever was in the head of the person who grabbed the mace. In the most recent case he did explain afterwards why he had done it - something about the government having lost its privilege to rule - but I think it would be a different reason every time.
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some kind of protest by grabbing it, but they always seem to look a bit foolish as a result, and it never accomplishes anything except for a bit of light-relief in the news headlines.
I have also known MPs that have committed some kind of parliamentary misdemeanour to be made to "apologise to the mace".
Update: asked to clarify "what does the gesture mean?"
The gesture has no defined or agreed meaning. The only meaning is whatever was in the head of the person who grabbed the mace. In the most recent case he did explain afterwards why he had done it - something about the government having lost its privilege to rule - but I think it would be a different reason every time.
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
edited 13 hours ago
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
answered 14 hours ago
Martin
693611
693611
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
add a comment |
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
5
5
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
9 hours ago
1
1
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It might be worth adding that the mace is required to be present in order for the house to conduct most of its business; hence the house cannot continue what it was doing until the mace is put back.
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
It the most recent incident, I believe the member of the Commons who tried to take it was making a statement about the delayed vote on Brexit as if to say, "We the members of the Commons are no longer determinant of what we do as far as business."
– Karlomanio
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
15 hours ago
1
LOL... checked news, expected a serious altercation with blunt weapons, was disappointed....
– rackandboneman
8 hours ago
It's called being a prima donna.
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
@cat it has been edited away a few hours ago into a separate article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_maces_in_the_United_Kingdom
– Federico
3 hours ago
1
@cat: Blimey; things move fast around here. :-)
– Steve Melnikoff
3 hours ago