"An act of uncomprehending constitutional vandalism"

A disloyal collection of 22 cross party MPs are launching a campaign to end the 500 year tradition of swearing allegiance to the Queen when entering parliament.

"I SWEAR BY ALMIGHTY GOD
THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE
TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH,
HER HEIRS AND SUCCESSORS,
ACCORDING TO LAW.
SO HELP ME GOD."
"This seems to me to be an attack upon the state itself. The monarch is the one embodiment of the state which is outside the political, partisan process...The people behind this campaign must either oppose the idea of anyone who is non-partisan having a role in the affairs of state, or they would rather be swearing allegiance to Brussels." - Lord Tebbit, Conservative Peer

"This is an act of uncomprehending constitutional vandalism. The Queen is the centre of the British constitution." - Geoffrey Cox, Tory MP

"This is a matter of democracy. I'm put here by my constituents and it's to them I owe my allegiance. Taking the oath to an unelected person is a nonsense."
- Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP and campaign leader

"We need to make the oath something that people are offered, rather than required to take...We should make provision for republicans or separatists..."I wouldn't drop the oath - I would make it optional. I am a subject of the Queen even more than I am a citizen of this country. I'd much prefer a bad monarchy to a good president...But people ought to be able to come to parliament and argue that they don't want the monarchy." - Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP

Update: The Low Tory Daniel Hannan (how low can you go and still call yourself one) says all the rights things, but qualifies the post by declaring himself a rather feeble monarchist. Read: MPs should pledge allegiance to the Crown