A FEMALE FIRST
Sarah Clarke is introduced as the new Black Rod to the House of Lords in London. She is the first female Black Rod in the 650-year history of the role and will be known as the Lady Usher of the Black Rod. Black Rod is responsible for the day-today running of the Lords.
PARLIAMENT’S FIRST female Black Rod has been welcomed to her new role in the House of Lords.
Peers cheered as Sarah Clarke appeared at the door of the chamber ready to assume her duties.
She is the first female Black Rod in the 650-year history of the role, and will be known as the Lady Usher of the Black Rod.
Lords Speaker Lord Fowler, welcoming the appointment, said: “In this centenary year of the first enfranchisement of women, I’m so pleased that this most historic of roles has finally been taken up by a woman.
“I hope that her appointment will demonstrate to women everywhere that no job or position is beyond their reach.”
Labour’s leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon said Ms Clarke had the skills, the understanding and personality to take on the role.
She quipped that her previous role in organising the Wimbledon tennis championships would be “very useful during any parliamentary ping-pong”, when Bills bounce between both Houses of Parliament due to disagreement between peers and MPs.
Black Rod is appointed by the monarch, and the Queen approved Ms Clarke’s position in November, on the recommendation of a selection panel chaired by the Lord Speaker. The present rod dates from 1883 and is emblazoned with the heraldic motto Honi soit qui mal y pense, translated as “Shame be to him, who evil thinks”. Black Rod is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Lords and is thrust into the public spotlight each year during the State Opening of Parliament, when he or she is sent to bang on the door of the Commons to summon MPs to hear the Queen’s Speech.
With the arrival of the new Black Rod, peers took the opportunity to pay tribute to David Leakey, who stepped down from the role at the end of last year. Lords leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park hailed his “tireless service”.