Is this just … how they do things in England?
Photo: Kirsty O’Connor/PA Images via Getty Images Late last night, amid a lengthy, chaotic, and ultimately successful attempt to suspend the U.K. Parliament, a woman entered the House of Commons. She had short gray hair. She was wearing black breeches , a black military-style coat with a giant, fluffy, white neck piece, and a cool necklace. She was carrying a long stick. She worked for the Queen, she looked mad, and everyone had to listen to her — or else. Her name? Black Rod.
What the hell is happening in U.K. Parliament right now? Prime Minister Boris Johnson had decided to initiate “prorogation” of Parliament, which is a fancy word for suspending a session. His aim in doing so is to shut Parliament down for five weeks — a stark difference, the New York Times notes, from “the traditional period of several days.
Wait, so who is Black Rod, and why is she so fancy? Black Rod, dressed like a mix of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Prince, is basically the Queen’s emissary in the House of Lords, Parliament’s upper chamber. This Black Rod, Sarah Clarke, is actually the first female black rod ever, so she is the first Lady Usher of the Black Rod . Her job is to, among other duties, control access to the House of Lords and to initiate official ceremonial events like prorogation.
The opposition lawmakers refused to follow, however, and chose to remain in the chamber, singing in protest and chanting, “Shame!” They also held up handmade signs that read “Silenced.”
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