Black Rod, a senior officer in the House of Lords, plays a central role in the State Opening of Parliament, a centuries-old ceremony that marks the beginning of the parliamentary year. During the event, Black Rod is dispatched to the House of Commons to summon Members of Parliament to the House of Lords to hear the monarch's speech.
The Tradition of the Slamming Door
A key part of this ritual involves the slamming of the Commons door in Black Rod's face, symbolising the independence of the House of Commons from the Crown. After three knocks, permission is granted for entry. This year, however, the ceremony took an unexpected turn when Black Rod Ed Davis was heckled by a backbench MP as he performed the traditional knocking on the chamber door.
Heckling Incident
Three backbench MPs identified the heckler as Torcuil Crichton, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, who reportedly shouted "Not now Andy" during the procedure. The interruption was brief, and the ceremony continued as planned.
Procession to the Lords
Following the summons, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led the procession of MPs to the Lords, which included prominent figures such as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch. The King's Speech outlines the government's legislative agenda for the upcoming session.
The incident has sparked discussions about parliamentary decorum, but officials confirmed that the ceremony proceeded without further disruption. The State Opening remains a key event in the UK political calendar, blending tradition with modern governance.
