Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, today detained a member of the country’s parliament while she went to Westminster to read her speech declaring parliament, which was temporarily suspended on the orders of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, open.
The hostage is lawmaker Stuart Andrew. His diary during the Queen’s Speech is marked as “confidential and full.”
The hostage is usually the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (also a government whip), who is said to be kept well entertained before being released when the monarch returns to the palace.
The idea of taken an MP hostage while the Queen goes to parliament to declare open its proceedings is however all fun and games these days. It is however a reminder of the historical violence between the Commons and the Crown, a member of parliament will be held “hostage” in Buckingham Palace while the Queen is in Westminster.
This tradition, stemming from the time of King Charles I, is intended to ensure the monarch’s safe return.
Charles I was convicted of treason and beheaded on January 30, 1649 at the end of the Civil War between the monarchy and Parliament. A copy of his death warrant is still displayed in the Robing Room in Westminster, just in case any future monarchs get any ideas about interfering with Parliament.
The first and most important piece of legislation announced by the Queen is the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which will lay out the plans for Britain’s departure from the EU.
“My government’s priority has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 October,” the Queen says, at the start of her speech. “My government intends to work towards a new partnership with the European Union, based on free trade and friendly cooperation.”
Johnson plans to put the bill before MPs next week, once debate on the Queen’s Speech has wrapped up — but it’s not clear if he’ll get the chance, given that his perilous position in Parliament means he is at risk of losing the vote on his agenda.
Even more pressing is the fact that Johnson is yet to agree any deal with the EU. If he hasn’t done so by the EU summit at the end of this week, he’s mandated by law to request another Brexit extension.
“An immigration bill, ending free movement, will lay the foundation for a fair, modern and global immigration system,” the speech adds.
“My Government remains committed to ensuring that resident European citizens, who have built their lives in, and contributed so much to, the United Kingdom, have the right to remain. The bill will include measures that reinforce this commitment,” she added.
“Steps will be taken to provide certainty, stability and new opportunities for the financial services and legal sectors
After her majesty; speech MPs filed back into the House of Commons, where they will spend days debating the contents of Boris Johnson’s Queen’s Speech.
There is plenty in there to discuss — including bills on important issues such as domestic abuse, pensions, healthcare, the environment and animal welfare.
Several bills were also dedicated to criminal justice, as Johnson continues to make law and order a central plank of his pitch to the public.
But it’s fairly unlikely that any of these bills will see the light of day in this Parliament, thanks to the very first part of the agenda — Brexit — which is expected to force a general election in the coming weeks.
MPs are reacting to the Queen’s Speech, with several on opposing benches criticizing Boris Johnson for using the process to set out what essentially amounts to an election manifesto.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, said the speech was “heavy on law & order from a Prime Minister willing to break the law” — referring to Johnson’s public reluctance to request a Brexit delay later this week, despite him being mandated to by law if he cannot pass a withdrawal agreement
