Should Stephen Benn

[davebro]

be entering the Lords as Viscount Stansgate when his father Tony Benn had renounced the title?

It's not like it's a long-standing title - Tony's father being the first holder.

I think the Lords should be reformed & reduced anyway but this seems to me a pretty blatant abuse of the system. Stephen Benn has had a career as Director of Parliamentary Affairs to the Society of Biology & the Royal Society of Chemistry. I think that means he's a lobbyist but I stand to be corrected.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2830424/Keeping-family-Stephen-Benn-lays-claim-seat-Lords-father-Tony-gave-50-years-ago.html

[eve1974]

David 14:26 //Scrap the lot. Antiquated hangover from when our betters ruled the land and the labour. //

Agree - tho "our betters" do still rule the land and labour - money always has and always will. The "old boys, (and girls) network that comes with peerages, royalty and old monied families in general still control so much - its simply hidden better nowadays. We, The mere minions, have very little control.

[Peter Pedant]

// the lords should....ed upper chamber, end of.//

fooden foo yeah!

no no no and no
Tony Benn -Anthony Wedgwood-Benn was NOT the first holder
starry eyed alien - naomi knows him
that one - his father was
and got a seat as a result of his war work

under tony blairs legislation 1999 - cant enter the Lords by right whether or no he is a viscount

Peerage Act 1963 ( sponsor - one Tony Benn or Viscount Stansgate)
is one of a few Acts on this subject

You can give them up OR
delay then and allow the son to take up
depending
and anyway the House of Lords is elective innit - representative peers and all that

[Peter Pedant]

starry eyed
staring-eyed - - - wild eyed - - crazed look

sozza nozza

the fact that you are a hereditary lord doesnt mean ya get a seat in the Lords and a snout in the expenses trough by right

we all knew that really didnt we ?

[davebro]

No - you have to be voted in by the existing members (I think) but you can't get on the ballot paper if you're not already a peer, and being one just because your father was...