Jeremy Corbyn,Labour leader accused of snubbing monarch after saying he's too busy to attend Privy Council ceremony today Thursday Oct 08,2015

 

Jeremy Corbyn was accused of snubbing the Queen after it emerged he has turned down an invitation to a ceremony today Thursday Oct 08,2015 to join the Privy Council.

Jeremy Corbyn ,the Labour leader, who is a staunch republican, was expected to be sworn in to the prestigious body, which involves kneeling in front of the monarch and kissing her hand while swearing an oath of allegiance.

A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said he could not attend today due to a diary clash, but would not say what this was. It has been suggested he may use a loophole to join the advisory body without ever meeting the Queen.

Jeremy Corbyn could join through a mechanism called an order in council whereby the council agrees to appoint a member in absentia. This is used for leaders of Commonwealth countries

Jeremy Corbyn would be the first Leader of the Opposition not to carry out the traditional ceremony.

Jeremy Corbyn was invited to join the Privy Council by David Cameron when the Prime Minister rang to congratulate him on becoming Labour leader on September 12,2015 .It was left to his staff to contact Buckingham Palace to arrange a date.

As a member of the council, Mr Corbyn would have the right to receive intelligence briefings at a time of escalation of the war in Syria.

The Queen returned from Balmoral to London yesterday and will meet her Privy Councillors at Buckingham Palace today for the first time in ten weeks.

The advisory body, which dates back hundreds of years, has more than 600 members, including ministers, bishops and judges. 

David Cameron joined the body in March 2006