Minister defends ‘offensive’ coronation-day oath to King Charles

A cabinet minister has said he "hopes people do" swear the proposed oath to the king on the day of his coronation, as republicans described it as "an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt".

The transport secretary, Mark Harper, said he would be swearing the oath, to be known as a "homage of the people" and pointed out that MPs already "pledge allegiance to his majesty" on taking their seats.

He also told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the coronation would be a "fantastic opportunity" and "great showcase for Britain around the world".

Shabana Mahmood, the Labour elections campaign chief, said it was a "lovely idea to involve the people" and that the oath was a "lovely touch".

She said she, as a Muslim MP, had already sworn allegiance to the king on the Qur'an and would be "joining in at the weekend as well".

However, other politicians were more sceptical, including the Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay, who said of the coronation: "I will watch it because it's a key time for the nation but a pledge is somewhat outdated."

Jenny Jones, a Green peer, also cast doubt on the idea of asking the public to swear allegiance to King Charles and suggested the £100m-plus bill for the coronation would be better spent on paying nurses. "Asking us to chant our allegiance does seem an odd request when so many of us think that the monarchy is an outdated institution that needs drastic reform. And I really think that the king is rich enough to pay for his own coronation, not us taxpayers," she said.