Blimey! British Parliament cuts tie with tradition

LONDON: It is considered the “mother of all parliaments” and is known for its quaint traditions, customs and rules, but Britain’s speaker, John Bercow, is allowing a break from the past — MPs need not wear a tie in the House of Commons if they so desire.

Not every parliament that follows the Westminster model has adopted the same dress code — for example, India — but the image of British MPs may no longer be the same. T-shirts and jeans may not yet be parliamentary, but there may soon be more lawmakers without a tie.

The issue arose on Thursday when Scottish National Party MP Angus Brendan MacNeil came to the House without a tie and Bercow allowed him to ask a question. This prompted Tory MP Peter Bone to ask if dress rules had been changed.

Known for his adherence to the traditional speaker’s dress, Bercow responded: “I think the general expectation is that members should dress in business-like attire. So far as the chair is concerned, I must say to the honorary gentleman, although I fear this will gravely disquiet him, that it seems to me that as long as a member arrives in the House in what might be thought to be business-like attire, the question of whether that member is wearing a tie is not absolutely front and centre stage.”

Parliament officials revealed the wearing of jackets and ties in the House of Commons was a relatively modern convention and, as such, it was within the speaker’s power to rule on it.