Members' dress

21.38Members should dress in business-like attire; this need not include a tie.1 A Member has been allowed to continue speaking on condition that clothing with inappropriate visual content is covered.2 Members are not permitted to wear decorations in the House.3 The wearing of military insignia or uniform inside the Chamber is not in accordance with the long-established custom of the House.

More relaxed standards of dress are accepted for Members simply going through the division lobbies in order to vote. The Speaker has indicated4 that Members must not in principle have their face covered while voting in a division since they must identify themselves to the tellers.

Footnotes

  1. 1. HC Deb (29 June 2017) 626, c 774. Formerly it was the custom for gentlemen Members to wear jackets and ties, but this was not enforced in all circumstances, HC Deb (1981–82) 27, c 468; ibid (1987–88) 119, c 194; but see ibid (1988–89) 159, c 1283.
  2. 2. HC Deb (12 June 2013) 564, c 94WH.
  3. 3. HC Deb (1951–52) 498, c 2750; ibid (1979–80) 984, c 986. The Speaker has also indicated that Members should not wear arm bands to publicise a cause, ibid (9 March 2005) 431, c 1519.
  4. 4. HC Deb (12 September 2013) 567, c 1170.