Becoming an MP

A list of all the MPs who have been successful in today’s poll is formally submitted to the Clerk of the House of Commons by the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery.

This is a ceremonial position for the conveying of the Crown’s commands to Parliament held by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. This is currently Dame Antonia Romeo.

The Hansard Society tell us that the list of newly elected MPs is contained in a vellum-bound Return Book known colloquially as the ‘White Book’, reflecting the colour of the binding. In practice, however, the list may be conveyed by the Deputy Clerk of the Crown in a copy of the Return Book.

At the table of the House of Commons and in the presence of the Speaker a senior Clerk will then invite each MP in turn to swear the oath or indicate whether they wish to affirm their allegiance. 

If they take the oath, the words are: “I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.”

If they choose to make what is known as a ‘solemn affirmation’ the words are: “I (name of MP) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law.”

The oath or affirmation must be taken or made in English first of all but the new MPs can follow this by taking it in the Welsh, Scots Gaelic or Cornish languages.

Once the oath or the affirmation has been administered, each MP signs the ‘Test Roll’ at the table in the House and is then introduced to the Speaker. The parchment book is known as the ‘Test Roll’ because historically the act of signing it was used to prove – or test – an MP’s loyalty to the Crown.