Monday, November 30, 2009

Can I haz title? Does that come with ermine?

On 14 December, the following item is on the list of business in the House of Lords;

Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make proposals relating to the titles used by the husbands of women members of the House of Lords.

Now I don't know where this question comes from, and I'm not sure what Baroness Deech's motivation is, but I am certainly intrigued by the prospect of an answer.

However, it isn't clear to me what title one might give. Of course, the wife of a male Peer is given the honorific 'Lady' (I'm not sure if this applies to the civil partner of a female Peer - anyone know?), but 'Lord' seems somewhat inappropriate. A life baronetcy perhaps, although Sir Mark has a bizarre ring to it.

No, I tend to think that things will be left as they are. After all, if all political parties are committed to reform of the second chamber and a mostly or fully-elected House, why bother with further fripperies? And if this Government were that bothered, you would have thought that Harriet Harman would have acted before now...

2 comments:

Richard Gadsden said...

Couldn't you just be made The Hon. Mark Scott?

Jennie Rigg said...

Bah! Whatever official title you are given, you'll always be Lady Mark to me :)

(am on mobile phone in strange bedroom, very amused by the fact that the Captcha is `spirm` and trying not to laugh aloud and wake my roommate)