Queen appoints first 'woman in tights' to Britain's parliament

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Upholding law and order in the "Mother of All Parliaments" is now woman's work, after Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday approved the appointment of the House of Commons first female serjeant at arms.

Jill Pay, a former assistant serjeant -- the word comes from the Latin serviens, or servant -- in the lower chamber of parliament, takes over from Major General Peter Grant Peterkin, who retired in December. She is the first woman in the post's 593-year history.

The serjeant at arms, who is the only person in the Commons allowed to carry a sword to symbolise the position's authority, heads up the chamber's 40-strong security team.

The team is often jokingly referred to as "the men in tights" because of members' traditional uniform that includes...