The Brexit strife continues after a British MP was expelled from Parliament for walking off with the chamber’s ceremonial mace in protest of the impending vote.
The centuries-old gilded staff, which dates from the reign of Charles II in the seventeenth century, is a symbol of royal authority and without it, Parliament cannot meet or pass laws.
On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May announced her government was postponing a crucial Brexit vote, which was supposed to happen this week. In protest, Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle walked towards the mace and held it up — which caused the room to erupt with anger.
WATCH: Video shows MP attempting to seize ceremonial mace
![Click to play video: 'Video shows MP seize ceremonial mace during Brexit debate and attempt to leave parliament'](https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/45/287/Mase_848x480_1394843715631.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Conservative MPs shouted “disgrace” and “expel him” as he raised the five-foot mace to the crowd, according to the Guardian.
The MP then tried to walk away carrying the mace, but was stopped by a crowd of people. He then handed it back to a Parliamentary official and was suspended for the rest of the sitting.
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WATCH: MP calls May’s delayed vote a ‘premature parliamentary ejaculation’
![Click to play video: 'Brexit: MP calls May’s delayed vote a ‘premature parliamentary ejaculation’'](https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/157/674/2018-12-10T18-02-14.6Z--1280x720.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Russell-Moyle spoke to reporters after and said: “The symbolic gesture of lifting the mace and removing it is that the will of Parliament to govern is no longer there. … I felt Parliament had effectively given up its sovereign right to govern properly,” he said.
“They stopped me before I got out of the chamber and I wasn’t going to struggle with someone wearing a huge sword on their hip,” he said, according to the Guardian.
WATCH:One man’s 15-month daily protest against Brexit
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