Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended from the House of Commons on Monday after grabbing the ceremonial mace in protest over the delay of the Brexit vote. The mace, a symbol of the Queen's authority, is essential for Parliament to meet and pass laws.
As the government formally announced it would not proceed with the debate on the withdrawal agreement, Russell-Moyle marched forward, seized the five-foot silver gilt mace, and held it aloft in the centre of the chamber. Conservative MPs shouted “Disgrace” and “Expel him” in response.
Speaker John Bercow demanded the MP return the mace and ordered him to leave the chamber. Russell-Moyle initially refused but eventually complied after Bercow insisted he must leave or be escorted out. The MP was suspended for the remainder of the sitting.
Speaking afterwards, Russell-Moyle said: “The symbolic gesture of lifting the mace and removing it is that the will of parliament to govern is no longer there has been removed. I felt parliament had effectively given up its sovereign right to govern properly.”
The incident echoes previous mace-grabbing protests, including by John McDonnell in 2009 and Michael Heseltine in 1976. The official parliamentary broadcast did not show the protest, but footage shared on social media went viral.
