A BRIGHTON MP has been thrown out the House of Commons after picking up the ceremonial mace in protest at the Government's handling of Brexit.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton Kemptown) walked over the white line known as the bar of the House, where he was stopped by Commons officials.

Mr Russell-Moyle's actions came after Theresa May delayed the Brexit deal vote, something he vocally opposed in earlier exchanges.

The Argus:

The Labour MP put up no resistance as he was stopped and handed over the mace.

But he remained in the chamber looking at the Speaker and said nothing as MPs gasped.

The parliamentary mace symbolises royal authority, so without it the House cannot meet or pass laws.

The mace is silver gilt and just over five foot long and every day it is carried into the Chamber by the Serjeant at Arms, where it is normally placed on the table of the House.

Tory MPs screamed "expel him" and "name him" as Speaker John Bercow rose to his feet.

Mr Bercow said: "By the power given to me by standing order number 43 and I think (Mr Russell-Moyle) will know the implication of his action, I must order (Mr Russell-Moyle) to withdraw immediately from the House for the remainder of this day's sitting. Mr Russell-Moyle please leave the chamber."

Mr Russell-Moyle initially refused the order and remained in the House before Mr Bercow said: "No, no he must leave or be escorted, he should leave" - at which he left.

Mr Russell-Moyle said he acted "on the spur of the moment" because of his frustration MPs were not being listened to.

Speaking from the Red Lion pub just outside Parliament, the Labour MP said: "The symbolic gesture of lifting the mace and removing it is that the will of Parliament to govern is no longer there has been removed.

"I felt Parliament had effectively given up its sovereign right to govern properly.

"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."

The last time the mace was taken from its place was in 2009 by now shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

Mr McDonnell was suspended from the Commons for five days grabbing the mace in protest at the Government's decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow.

In 1976 former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine was also reprimanded for picking up the ceremonial mace.

As a young Tory MP Mr Heseltine swung the mace in fury at the then Labour government's decision to breach pairing arrangements and force through a measure by one vote.