Why It's Illegal to Resign from the British House of Commons

Music by Epidemic Sound

[xlsfd]

If you're wondering why you can't hold one of the two jobs mentioned and be an MP at the same time, this stems from the fact that these jobs essentially make you an employee of the monarch - and the House of Commons was afraid of the Monarch having any sort of influence over MPs.

[pegeonpera]

4:02
MP : I am resigning
Chancellor of the Exchequer : _Its treason then_

[patchesohoolihan]

The law against armour in parliament is sensible, and still applies. You can't turn up in a bulletproof vest, for instance. Stops a "Red Wedding" type situation where one side just decides to show up and murder the opposition.

[lawsonian]

The third person rule is used the US Senate as well. Senators usually say “The senior senator from West Virginia” or “The junior senator from Utah” when referring to a specific colleague

[Kafaldsbylur]

Minor nitpick: You *are* allowed to hold office as an MP and be Crown Steward and Bailiff of yadda yadda at the same time. The rule is that if an MP gets appointed to a paid position under the Crown, there must be a by-election in that MP's constituency to give the people a chance to vote them out if they fear the Queen might be trying to bribe the MP.

The loophole is that the MP is not forced to run in that by-election, so someone else gets voted in and the former MP hasn't technically resigned.

[Huntracony]

In the Netherlands there was a politician who recently wore a tactical vest to parlament to demonstrate the poor equipment of the Dutch army. He even wore a tie underneath it. Though it was not illegal, it was definitely frowned upon.

[bluemountain]

You could also have mentioned the resignation of Gerry Adams in 2011.

He submitted a letter of resignation to the Chancellor but because he was in Sinn Fein he rejected the monachy, and so refused to apply for one of those two positions (the Chilern Hundreds, or the Manor of Northstead).
However the Chancellor just appointed him Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead anyway against his will.

[franticranter]

There's no way an mp would say another mp smells like beef and cheese. A few years ago an mp called david Cameron "dodgy dave" and got kicked out for the day

[nousername]

“There is no punishment for resigning because you can’t do it.”

That’s literally the most American quote ever, sir.

[RealEngineering]

Buckfast territory is the best territory.

[szymongorczynski]

"You can just not turn up and still get paid, but that wouldn't be great for their political careers."

I dunno, Sinn Fein somehow managed to master that technique.

[liamscott]

1:08

you mean "Mr Speaker, the honourable member for Tewkesbury's mother was a hamster and his father smelled of elderberry's"

[adambrittain]

"the one everyone forgets" leave our sheep alone!!

[lazyperfectionist]

"Good riddance to this fetid cesspit of incompetence. I should hope that I need never spend another moment in the prescence of this wretched parliament."
One of the most English sentences ever written.

[CashelOConnolly]

I’ve been to the Palace of Westminster many times, I think you’d be surprised how small both chambers are!

[jeffwalker]

British MP's are also not allowed to say another MP is lying. Also, MP's can pretty much say things that could land them in court being sued for slander from the floor of the chamber. Parliamentary privildges means they can't be sued.

[sakar]

4:09 did i just watch someone crush to death?

[cadenwray]

That thing about the queen firing the entire Australian government is actually true and the law has been exercised at least once before, when the Governor General of Australia (the person responsible for making decisions on the queens behalf) actually disbanded the sitting government. However today it’s a little bit more tame, though the queen (or governer general) does still have to sign off any new laws or amendments

[jmandawgfan]

Dang my UK political career just ended. Anybody know what I should do?

[EcraZlife]

CoE: I'm about to prolong this man's whole career!