A legal requirement to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen is discriminatory and unjust. By forcing people to take oaths they do not truly believe we devalue and undermine their importance. We believe there should be a choice of oath for republicans. This is a political and legal challenge to make that choice a reality.
Who swears an oath
An oath of allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and successors is taken by a wide variety of people.
The list is as follows:
Government and Judiciary
[From Halsbury's Laws of England]
"As soon as may be after their acceptance of office the following executive officers and members of the judiciary must take the oath of allegiance and official or judicial oath, in the form and manner prescribed":
First Lord of the Treasury (The Prime Minister)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord Chancellor
Lord President of the Council
Lord Privy Seal
Secretaries of state
President of the Board of Trade
Lord Steward
Lord Chamberlain
Earl Marshal
Master of the Horse
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Paymaster General
Minister of Agriculture
Any Minister of State who is eligible for a salary under the Ministerial Salaries Act 1975
Lord Chancellor of Great Britain (as a member of the judiciary)
Recorder of London
Justices of the Peace for counties and boroughs
District judges
Master of the Queen's Bench Division
Master of the Chancery Division
Registrar in Bankruptcy of the High Court
Taxing Master of the Supreme Court
Admiralty Registrar
Lord Chief Justice
Master of the Rolls
President of the Family Division
Vice Chancellor
Lord Justice of Appeal
Puisne judge of the High Court
Circuit judges
Recorders
Master of the Court of Protection
Others required to pledge allegiance to the Crown
Archbishops and bishops
Members of Parliament
Peers
Members of the Scottish Parliament
Members of the Welsh Assembly
Privy Counsellors
Members of the clergy (Church of England)
Armed services (excluding the Navy)
Police constables
Aliens upon naturalisation (foreign citizens wishing to become British citizens)
Those exempt from swearing allegiance to the Queen
Members of the Royal Navy
Northern Ireland police
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Magistrates in Northern Ireland
Civil servants
Local government councillors
Local government officials
The Queen!
