Members of Parliament (MPs) often wear various lapel pins that symbolize support for specific causes, commemorations, or campaigns. Some notable examples include:
- MPs wear wheat-sheaf badges on their lapels to show support for British farming, particularly on Back British Farming Day. This pin, encouraged by the National Farmers' Union, symbolizes the importance of British food and farming standards and celebrates the industry. It is typically a wool and wheat-sheaf pin badge worn during parliamentary sessions such as Prime Minister’s Questions
- MPs also wear poppy lapel pins around Remembrance events to honor those who have served and sacrificed in the armed forces. These pins feature a red poppy design and are a powerful symbol of remembrance
- On occasions like Holocaust Memorial Day, MPs wear badges to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, raising awareness and remembrance of these events
- MPs may wear other pins related to their party, parliamentary roles, or campaigns, such as party logos or symbolic brooches available through the Houses of Parliament Shop
In summary, the lapel pins MPs wear vary depending on the occasion but commonly include symbols like wheat sheaves for farming support, poppies for remembrance, and badges for commemorative or political causes.
