A FIFE MP has been left baffled by a bizarre Westminster tradition in her first few days in Parliament after she was provided with a hanger for her sword.
Melanie Ward, the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, arrived at Westminster yesterday after claiming victory in the constituency in last Thursday’s general election.
The Scottish Labour member was there assigned a dedicated slot to hang her coat and belongings, as well as a bizarre pink ribbon tied to the hanger itself.
The new MP soon discovered that the pink ribbon serves as a makeshift hanger for any sword that may be at her side before she enters the House of Commons.
Ward’s snap of the parliamentary coat rack shows a line of coat hangers all labelled with their respective MP’s constituencies and all sporting the small pink ribbon.
The coat hangers each boast the little loop of fabric which is designed to hold swords safely whilst MPs debate on the house floor.
Ward’s hanger, labelled “Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy” is no different, but the MP joked that she unfortunately didn’t bring her sword with her this time, so was unable to test out the ribbon’s qualities.
Sharing the image to social media yesterday Ward wrote: “Here’s my coat hanger in Parliament. The pink ribbon is apparently for my sword.
“Unfortunately, I left it in Fife this week; must remember it next week.”
Her tongue-in-cheek post received over 110 likes and comments from users on social media.
One user said: “Brilliant Mel. I can bring you one up from SE London no probs. So many congratulations.”
Another added: “How careless of you. Have a great first week.”
A third wrote: “That’s okay you can get it next time you are back.”
Another commented: “Of course try and get back and forth as often as possible, see if you can break any CO2 emissions records.
“The average British person 8 tonnes/yr. Me 2.5t/yr. Taylor Swift 7,000,000t/yr. Doubt if you’ll beat Taylor, but give it a go, why not. Get polluting.”
A fifth replied: “Hilarious stuff, must be great to get away from all that humanitarian nonsense pretence, though it served you well I suppose, so it all worked out in the end, for you at least.”
