Whereas Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto packed the supreme court with their supporters, General Musharraf sacked half its judges for refusing to swear allegiance to him.

ECONOMIST: Too much for one man to do

There can be a non-English Archbishop of Canterbury as long, at the present time, as long as that person can swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen because of the nature of the establishment.

BBC: News Online

Every politician must swear allegiance and submission to the law.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

When Chloe Smith, Conservative MP for Norwich North, took her seat in Parliament in 2009, she opted to affirm rather than swear a religious oath of allegiance to the Queen.

BBC: England

New members are now required only to swear by Almighty God that they will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and her heirs and successors.

ECONOMIST: Abandon oaths all ye who enter here

If elected to Parliament, your columnist would also be only too happy to swear the oath of allegiance required in that place.

ECONOMIST: Abandon oaths all ye who enter here