Watch: Northern Ireland's new MPs sworn in at Westminster

Four of Northern Ireland's seven new MPs have been sworn in at Westminster following last week's UK General Election.

The new MPs for Lagan Valley, North Antrim, North Down and South Antrim were in Parliament for the first sitting on Tuesday afternoon before they took their oath of office.

The SDLP's Colum Eastwood caused a stir on social media when he announced that he was making his oath "under protest" and that his true allegiance was to "the people of Derry and the people of Ireland."

Read more: Meet the seven new MPs representing Northern Ireland at Westminster

Read more: Abstention and why Sinn Féin refuse to take their seats in Westminster

The Oath of Allegiance to the Monarch and his heirs and successors is a long-standing tradition at Westminster and MPs must undertake it before they are allowed to sit in the chamber or claim their salary.

In keeping with their policy of abstention, Sinn Féin's newest representatives were absent from the chamber for proceedings.

The first of our new crop of MPs to take the oath was Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood who opted to swear on the King James Bible.

She was followed sometime later by TUV leader Jim Allister and the Independent MP for North Down Alex Easton who arrived together to be sworn in.

Although present in the chamber on Tuesday, the UUP's South Antrim MP Robin Swann waited until Wednesday afternoon to be sworn in.

MPs will return to the chamber on Wednesday 17th July for the State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech.

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