What is the meaning of this gesture in the British parliament?











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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?










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  • See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
    – Steve Melnikoff
    6 hours ago















up vote
9
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?










share|improve this question
























  • See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
    – Steve Melnikoff
    6 hours ago













up vote
9
down vote

favorite









up vote
9
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?










share|improve this question















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






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edited 6 hours ago









Steve Melnikoff

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3,37211330










asked 6 hours ago









Federico

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  • See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
    – Steve Melnikoff
    6 hours ago


















  • See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
    – Steve Melnikoff
    6 hours ago
















See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
6 hours ago




See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
6 hours ago










1 Answer
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13
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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.






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  • 1




    The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
    – Ambo100
    31 mins ago











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
13
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.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1




    The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
    – Ambo100
    31 mins ago















up vote
13
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.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1




    The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
    – Ambo100
    31 mins ago













up vote
13
down vote



accepted







up vote
13
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.






share|improve this answer














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.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 3 hours ago

























answered 5 hours ago









Martin

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  • 1




    The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
    – Ambo100
    31 mins ago














  • 1




    The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
    – Ambo100
    31 mins ago








1




1




The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago




The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago


















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