This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/30/minister-defends-offensive-coronation-day-oath-to-king-charles
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Minister defends ‘offensive’ coronation-day oath to King Charles | Minister defends ‘offensive’ coronation-day oath to King Charles |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Mark Harper and Labour MP back ‘homage of the people’, but republicans say it ‘holds people in contempt’ | Mark Harper and Labour MP back ‘homage of the people’, but republicans say it ‘holds people in contempt’ |
| A cabinet minister has said he “hopes people do” swear the proposed oath to the king on the day of his coronation, as republicans described it as “an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt”. | A cabinet minister has said he “hopes people do” swear the proposed oath to the king on the day of his coronation, as republicans described it as “an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt”. |
| The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said he would be swearing the oath, to be known as a “homage of the people” and pointed out that MPs already “pledge allegiance to his majesty” on taking their seats. | The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said he would be swearing the oath, to be known as a “homage of the people” and pointed out that MPs already “pledge allegiance to his majesty” on taking their seats. |
| He also told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the coronation would be a “fantastic opportunity” and “great showcase for Britain around the world”. | He also told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the coronation would be a “fantastic opportunity” and “great showcase for Britain around the world”. |
| Shabana Mahmood, the Labour elections campaign chief, said it was a “lovely idea to involve the people” and that the oath was a “lovely touch”. | Shabana Mahmood, the Labour elections campaign chief, said it was a “lovely idea to involve the people” and that the oath was a “lovely touch”. |
| She said she, as a Muslim MP, had already sworn allegiance to the king on the Qur’an and would be “joining in at the weekend as well”. | |
| However, other politicians were more sceptical, including the Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who said of the coronation: “I will watch it because it’s a key time for the nation but a pledge is somewhat outdated.” | |
| Jenny Jones, a Green peer, also cast doubt on the idea of asking the public to swear allegiance to King Charles and suggested the £100m-plus bill for the coronation would be better spent on paying nurses. “Asking us to chant our allegiance does seem an odd request when so many of us think that the monarchy is an outdated institution that needs drastic reform. And I really think that the king is rich enough to pay for his own coronation, not us taxpayers,” she said. | Jenny Jones, a Green peer, also cast doubt on the idea of asking the public to swear allegiance to King Charles and suggested the £100m-plus bill for the coronation would be better spent on paying nurses. “Asking us to chant our allegiance does seem an odd request when so many of us think that the monarchy is an outdated institution that needs drastic reform. And I really think that the king is rich enough to pay for his own coronation, not us taxpayers,” she said. |
| The Labour MP Clive Lewis said of the proposed oath: “The Church of England exhorts lots of things. Some of them on compassion in politics and wider society and others on the dangers of inequality and greed. These statements I agree with. I can also see how they connect with the broader teachings of Christian teaching. But this is the ‘high church’ making this pronouncement and I think it’s one that will either be unwelcome or ignored by many. | The Labour MP Clive Lewis said of the proposed oath: “The Church of England exhorts lots of things. Some of them on compassion in politics and wider society and others on the dangers of inequality and greed. These statements I agree with. I can also see how they connect with the broader teachings of Christian teaching. But this is the ‘high church’ making this pronouncement and I think it’s one that will either be unwelcome or ignored by many. |
| “As Jesus is said to have said: ‘Give unto Caesar what is his.’ And this ain’t it.” | “As Jesus is said to have said: ‘Give unto Caesar what is his.’ And this ain’t it.” |
| Republic, the anti-monarchist organisation protesting against the coronation, said: “Asking people to swear allegiance to Charles and his heirs means swearing allegiance to Andrew. In a democracy it is the head of state who should swear allegiance to us. This is an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt.” | Republic, the anti-monarchist organisation protesting against the coronation, said: “Asking people to swear allegiance to Charles and his heirs means swearing allegiance to Andrew. In a democracy it is the head of state who should swear allegiance to us. This is an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt.” |
| The new tradition, revealed on Sunday, will involve those watching the coronation on television, online and in parks and pubs being encouraged to swear aloud their allegiance to the monarch in a “chorus of millions of voices”. | |
| They will be invited to say the words: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.” The declaration replaces the traditional homage of peers. | They will be invited to say the words: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.” The declaration replaces the traditional homage of peers. |
| Sign up to First Edition | Sign up to First Edition |
| Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning | Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| Saturday’s service will also involve for the first time the active participation of representatives of faiths other than Christianity. Rishi Sunak, a Hindu, will give a reading from the Bible in his capacity as prime minister, despite Church of England law in effect barring other faiths from taking an active role in its services. “There is no issue about [Sunak’s] personal faith, we’re delighted that he is doing [this],” said a Lambeth Palace spokesperson. | Saturday’s service will also involve for the first time the active participation of representatives of faiths other than Christianity. Rishi Sunak, a Hindu, will give a reading from the Bible in his capacity as prime minister, despite Church of England law in effect barring other faiths from taking an active role in its services. “There is no issue about [Sunak’s] personal faith, we’re delighted that he is doing [this],” said a Lambeth Palace spokesperson. |
| Other new elements include the king voicing aloud a specially written prayer; a hymn sung in English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish in an acknowledgment of the “rich heritage” of the UK; and the participation of female Anglican bishops. | Other new elements include the king voicing aloud a specially written prayer; a hymn sung in English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish in an acknowledgment of the “rich heritage” of the UK; and the participation of female Anglican bishops. |
| The coronation liturgy, published this weekend, has been drawn up by Lambeth Palace, the London headquarters of the archbishop of Canterbury, in close consultation with the king. Its new elements “reflect the diversity of our contemporary society”, said Justin Welby, the archbishop. | The coronation liturgy, published this weekend, has been drawn up by Lambeth Palace, the London headquarters of the archbishop of Canterbury, in close consultation with the king. Its new elements “reflect the diversity of our contemporary society”, said Justin Welby, the archbishop. |