Charles Bradlaugh, MP for Northampton, an atheist, asserts the right to affirm at his swearing in to the House of Commons instead of taking a religious oath. However, this is refused, and after attempting to take his seat regardless, he is arrested and even briefly imprisoned. He is excluded from the House and a by-election held, but his constituency re-elects him four times in succession. Eventually, eight years later, a new Oaths Act is passed which allows the right to swear by affirmation, as he had demanded.
87 words
Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Charles Bradlaugh MP claims the right to take a secular oath in Parliament". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 December 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=18809, accessed 07 May 2024.]