In 1880 Bradlaugh was elected Member of Parliament for Northampton, and claimed the right to affirm (instead of taking the religious Oath of Allegiance), but this was denied, and he subsequently offered to take the oath "as a matter of form".
In 1880 Bradlaugh was elected Member of Parliament for Northampton, but he refused to take the oath of allegiance (which included the phrase "so help me God"). He claimed the right to affirm (instead of making the religious reference), but this was denied, and he subsequented offered to take the oath "as a matter of form".