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?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
add a comment |
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?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
6 hours ago
add a comment |
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?
united-kingdom parliament
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
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 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
edited 6 hours ago
Steve Melnikoff
3,37211330
3,37211330
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
asked 6 hours ago
Federico
3,56432347
3,56432347
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
6 hours ago
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
1 Answer
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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.
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
1
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
1
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
1
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago
add a comment |
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.
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
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 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
edited 3 hours ago
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
answered 5 hours ago
Martin
623510
623510
1
The ceremonial mace has been removed or damaged in protest at least five times.
– Ambo100
31 mins ago
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace#Houses_of_Parliament
– Steve Melnikoff
6 hours ago