Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)

United Kingdom
Serjeant at Arms of the
House of Commons
Incumbent
Kamal El-Hajji

since 2015
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Reports to Clerk of the Parliaments
Appointer The Crown (de jure)
Clerk of the Parliaments (de facto)
Formation 1415
First holder Nicholas Maundit
Deputy Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod
Website Serjeant at Arms

The Serjeant at Arms of the British House of Commons is an official responsible for the security of the House of Commons. The office dates to 1415.

The House of Lords also had a Serjeant-at-Arms (the title was often distinguished by the use of hyphens), dating also from the 15th Century. His duties were merged in 1971 with those of Black Rod.[1]

Traditionally the post of Serjeant at Arms was filled by a retired military officer, but in 2008 a civil servant, Jill Pay, was selected as the first woman to hold the appointment. At the same time the job was split, with many of the duties transferred to the new post of chief executive.[2]

In 2012 a specialist security expert, Lawrence Ward, was appointed to the role.[3] The current (2015) holder of the post is Mohammed Amal (Kamal) El-Hajji, previously front of house security manager at the Ministry of Justice headquarters.[4]

Duties

The duties of the Serjeant at Arms are partly ceremonial. The Serjeant at Arms carries the mace during the opening of Parliament and is also responsible for security during debates in the House of Commons, escorting Members out of the Chamber if ordered to do so by the Speaker.

Dress

The Serjeant at Arms wears traditional dress and carries a sword,[5] and is traditionally the only person allowed inside the House armed.

List of Serjeants at Arms

Sir Henry Erskine, Serjeant-at-Arms, UK House of Commons. Caricatured by Vanity Fair, 1894
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also

References

  1. House of Lords; Serjeant-at-Arms at www.parliament.uk
  2. Groves, Jason (13 October 2011). "First female Serjeant at Arms quits Commons just days after powerful clerk becomes her boss". Daily Mail (London).
  3. www.parliament.uk - 16 April 2012 - Serjeant at Arms appointed
  4. www.parliament.uk - 22 December 2015 - Serjeant at Arms appointed
  5. Serjeant at Arms
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Serjeants at Arms to the Speaker" (PDF). Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  7. History of Parliament
  8. History of Parliament
  9. History of Parliament
  10. History of Parliament
  11. Thepeerage
  12. "Captain Gosset has resigned". The Spectator. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  13. Thepeerage
  14. New Serjeant at Arms appointed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35158838 BBC News
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