AS Tony Banks, Britain's new minister for sport, took the oath to the crown in the House of Commons on Tuesday, he had his fingers crossed. Spotted on television, he said it was because he is very superstitious and getting the job was like winning the lottery. Others weren't so sure.
As a left-winger, he has a reputation for being less than sound on the monarchy and opponents have asked if he was demonstrating that it is so abhorrent to him, he could not bear to swear the oath.
Could his gesture be a way out for Sinn Fein whose abstentionism is looking thin with Messrs Adams and McGuinness planning to go to Westminster even if they won't enter the chamber? This week they were denied facilities, as well as their MP's salaries, because they won't take the oath.
Asked if he would be doing everything that an ordinary MP would do, except take part in debates and votes, Gerry Adams drew laughs from his supporters when he quipped: "I won't do some of the things that Tory MPs used to do.