Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
In 1538, Henry Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, was imprisoned in the Tower of London awaiting execution. During this tumultuous time, he inscribed words on his cell walls that would eventually become his family’s motto – “Where have I fallen, what have I done?” Fast forward almost 500 years, another Earl of Devon, Charlie Courtenay, the 19th or 38th Earl of Devon, faces the prospect of being removed from the House of Lords. As part of the government’s House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, he is one of the 87 remaining hereditary peers who will be ousted, adding to the list of his family’s trials and tribulations throughout history.
Reflecting on his impending departure, Charlie Courtenay remains relatively unfazed, considering his family’s turbulent past with beheadings. For him, such “executions” are nothing out of the ordinary when considering the history of hereditary peers. The role of hereditary peers in Parliament has a long-standing tradition, where they inherited the right to participate in lawmaking processes. Despite Prime Minister Tony Blair’s actions in 1999 to reduce their numbers, a significant portion remained, a situation that a new Labour government is aiming to rectify.
In Charlie Courtenay’s case, his family’s heritage has always been a topic of intrigue and discomfort, with a lineage dating back to 1142. He remains steadfast in his advocacy for hereditary peers, emphasizing the unique perspective they bring to political discourse and decision-making processes. As he faces the impending removal from the House of Lords, Charlie Courtenay remains committed to championing the cause of gender equality in hereditary titles, advocating for changes that would allow women to inherit titles. Despite the inevitable end of hereditary peerage for his descendants, Charlie Courtenay remains resolute in his convictions and the historical significance of his family’s legacy.
Lord Thurso, a Liberal Democrat peer, echoes similar sentiments regarding the role of hereditary peers in modern politics. Commuting over 670 miles weekly from Thurso to the Lords, Lord Thurso highlights the impracticality and outdated nature of the current system. While recognizing the merits of the House of Lords in scrutinizing government decisions, Lord Thurso emphasizes the need for legitimacy and reform within the institution. Likewise, Lord Howe shares his unique journey of inheriting a title and a stately home unexpectedly, reflecting on the challenges and fulfillment that have come with his role as a peer for nearly four decades. Notably, Lord Hacking, a Labour hereditary peer, acknowledges the changing landscape of political representation and the government’s push to phase out hereditary peers. While expressing some sadness at the prospect of removal, Lord Hacking remains hopeful for a compromise that would allow the best of the hereditary peers to transition to life peerages
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.