Black Rod is one of Britain's great officials of State. He is responsible for security at the House of Lords and for knocking three times on the Commons door to hear the Queen making a speech during the State Opening of Parliament. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II). Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" answers "Black Rod". He is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend.
This ritual is derived from the attempt by King Charles I to arrest five members in 1642 (during the English Civil War), in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber.
But now the Labour Government, which is notorious for its desire to strip Britain of its ancient traditions, has stripped Black Rod of half of his powers...
Anger as Labour's 'petty vandals' strip Black Rod of half his powers
By SIMON WALTERS
16th March 2008
Daily Mail
Labour was accused of "petty parliamentary vandalism" last night over a decision to strip Black Rod, the personal attendant of the Queen in the Lords, of his historic powers.
The current holder of the 658-year-old post, Lieutenant General Sir Michael Willcocks, is being forced to quit the job two years earlier than expected – and his successor will have only half his powers.
The job will still include ceremonial responsibilities, but day-to-day running of the Lords' offices will be switched to a corporate-style "director general of facilities".
'Revenge'?: Britain's current Black Rod, Sir Michael Willcocks, is being forced to quit early. The post of Black Rod was created in 1350
The decision has led to a behind-the-scenes battle – with claims it is revenge for Sir Michael's row with Tony Blair over the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002.
Mr Blair made an official complaint after The Mail on Sunday revealed he tried to steal the limelight at the Queen Mother's lying-in-state.
He was forced to climb down after Black Rod said the story was true.
The new move has been pushed through by Labour's Lords Leader, Baroness Ashton, backed by the Lords Speaker, former Labour MP Helene Hayman, and Chief Whip Baroness Jan Royal, a former aide to Neil Kinnock.
According to one source, Baroness Ashton told a meeting: "Our people do not like Black Rod."
Her spokesman said the claim was untrue and insisted: "She has a high regard for Black Rod."
Sir Michael had intended to stay in his job until 2011 to finish a £65million scheme for new offices for peers in Westminster. But Labour rejected the move.
The new director general will have the same status as Black Rod and will oversee the new office programme.
At one point, an attempt was made to throw Black Rod off the Lords' ruling management board, which would have reduced him to the status of a junior administrator.
The move has sparked a peers' rebellion. One veteran Labour Lord said: "It is petty parliamentary vandalism by people who resent the fact that Black Rod refused to buckle when No10 tried to conceal Blair's attempt to steal the show at the Queen Mother's funeral."
A Conservative peer said: "Labour have no respect for tradition and want to turn the Lords into little more than a county council."
The post of Black Rod was created in 1350. He is responsible for security at the Lords and the State Opening of Parliament, when he bangs on the Commons door three times with his mace to summon MPs to hear the Queen's Speech.
WHO IS BLACK ROD?
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the British parliament. The position originates in the House of Lords of the British Parliament. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Sergeant-at-Arms.
The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.
Black Rod has a number of official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords. Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, and plays a role in the induction of all new Lords Temporal into the House (but not of bishops as new Lords Spiritual).
State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" answers "Black Rod". He is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I of England to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.
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This ritual is derived from the attempt by King Charles I to arrest five members in 1642 (during the English Civil War), in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber.
But now the Labour Government, which is notorious for its desire to strip Britain of its ancient traditions, has stripped Black Rod of half of his powers...
Anger as Labour's 'petty vandals' strip Black Rod of half his powers
By SIMON WALTERS
16th March 2008
Daily Mail
Labour was accused of "petty parliamentary vandalism" last night over a decision to strip Black Rod, the personal attendant of the Queen in the Lords, of his historic powers.
The current holder of the 658-year-old post, Lieutenant General Sir Michael Willcocks, is being forced to quit the job two years earlier than expected – and his successor will have only half his powers.
The job will still include ceremonial responsibilities, but day-to-day running of the Lords' offices will be switched to a corporate-style "director general of facilities".
'Revenge'?: Britain's current Black Rod, Sir Michael Willcocks, is being forced to quit early. The post of Black Rod was created in 1350
The decision has led to a behind-the-scenes battle – with claims it is revenge for Sir Michael's row with Tony Blair over the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002.
Mr Blair made an official complaint after The Mail on Sunday revealed he tried to steal the limelight at the Queen Mother's lying-in-state.
He was forced to climb down after Black Rod said the story was true.
The new move has been pushed through by Labour's Lords Leader, Baroness Ashton, backed by the Lords Speaker, former Labour MP Helene Hayman, and Chief Whip Baroness Jan Royal, a former aide to Neil Kinnock.
According to one source, Baroness Ashton told a meeting: "Our people do not like Black Rod."
Her spokesman said the claim was untrue and insisted: "She has a high regard for Black Rod."
Sir Michael had intended to stay in his job until 2011 to finish a £65million scheme for new offices for peers in Westminster. But Labour rejected the move.
The new director general will have the same status as Black Rod and will oversee the new office programme.
At one point, an attempt was made to throw Black Rod off the Lords' ruling management board, which would have reduced him to the status of a junior administrator.
The move has sparked a peers' rebellion. One veteran Labour Lord said: "It is petty parliamentary vandalism by people who resent the fact that Black Rod refused to buckle when No10 tried to conceal Blair's attempt to steal the show at the Queen Mother's funeral."
A Conservative peer said: "Labour have no respect for tradition and want to turn the Lords into little more than a county council."
The post of Black Rod was created in 1350. He is responsible for security at the Lords and the State Opening of Parliament, when he bangs on the Commons door three times with his mace to summon MPs to hear the Queen's Speech.
WHO IS BLACK ROD?
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the British parliament. The position originates in the House of Lords of the British Parliament. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Sergeant-at-Arms.
The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.
Black Rod has a number of official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords. Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, and plays a role in the induction of all new Lords Temporal into the House (but not of bishops as new Lords Spiritual).
State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and in reply to the challenge "Who is there?" answers "Black Rod". He is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by Charles I of England to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege, though strictly the King was entitled to enter the chamber. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.
dailymail.co.uk
wikipedia.org