In 1997, Tony Banks was sworn in as Britain's newest Labour MP. Banks, a Republican at heart, was not impressed by his nation's requirement that (like all MPs) he swear loyalty to the queen.

His solution? He crossed his fingers as he took the oath!

[MPs are not required to take an oath to uphold democracy; the queen takes an oath to govern the country and uphold the rights of bishops... Before swearing, Tony Benn declared: "As a committed republican, under protest, I take the oath required of me by law..."]