Hereditary Peerage Association
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The Hereditary Peerage Association is a British representative body for hereditary peers in the United Kingdom formed in the wake of the House of Lords Act 1999 [1]. It came into being in 2002 due to a merger of the "Hereditary Peers" and "TOPs".[citation needed]
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[edit] Aims
It aims to provide a representative voice for hereditary peers thus attempting to clarify the rights of the remaining peers, and to protect the remaining rights and dignities of the hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, and those peers whose titles derived from the former Peerages of Great Britain, and of Ireland, and to provide a forum for communication and debate of matters of common concern for members of the peerage. It seeks to maintain a common bond between hereditary peers through its active social events, and to protect and promote the heritage which they collectively represent in a "somewhat unlikely trade union." [2]
In November 2003, the Hereditary Peerage Association responded to the white paper Constitutional Reform: next steps for the House of Lords, expressing opposition to the proposed removal of the then 92 remaining hereditary peers. [3] [4] On March 13, 2007, Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun suggested that the Hereditary Peerage Association could give advice on candidate selection in Peers' elections. [5]
[edit] Membership
Membership is open to all hereditary peers, with associate membership open to their heirs.
The Joint Chairmen are Viscount Torrington and Lord Newall, the committee being composed of the latter as well as, Lord Kilmaine, Lord St. Oswald, the Earl of Erroll, Viscount Trenchard and Lord Glanusk.
[edit] Events
The HPA is active through an array of social events[citation needed], including a monthly luncheon. On February 28, 2006, Windsor Herald William Hunt spoke on the subject of the Roll of the Peerage before an HPA luncheon. [6]
[edit] Compensation Case
The HPA oversaw the compensation case taken by 70 of the peers[citation needed] who lost their seats to sue the British government for £1m each in the European Court of Human Rights. Although the court ruled that they had not acted within the necessary six-month window, it showed some sympathy to their claim. Another petition is expected once the remaining 92 hereditary peers are ejected.[2] This is currently being managed by Shane Alexander, 2nd Earl Alexander of Tunis.
[edit] References
- ^ Intute: Social Sciences - Full record details for Hereditary Peerage Association
- ^ a b Iain Hollingshead (2005-12-10). Whatever happened to ... hereditary peers?. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Department for Constitutional Affairs (April 2004). [http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/holref/holresp.htm Constitutional Reform: next steps for the House of Lords Summary of Responses to Consultation]. DCA.gov.uk. Retrieved on May 25, 2007.
- ^ Viscount Torrington (November 17, 2003). Re: White Paper: CP14/03 Constitutional Reform: next steps for the House of Lords. DCA.gov.uk. Retrieved on May 25, 2007. “I am writing on behalf of the Hereditary Peerage Association...to express the dismay that many of my members feel about...the White Paper...”
- ^ Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun (March 13, 2007). Lords Hansard text for 13 Mar 200713 Mar 2007 (pt 0011). Hansard. Retrieved on May 25, 2007. “Having said that, I think Peers’ elections in their present form are rather a farce, but they could be improved by one or two simple measures. At the election held last week, there were 43 candidates and 41 electors. It should not be difficult to devise a method of weeding out the candidates. The Hereditary Peerage Association might be able to help...”
- ^ The College of Arms Newsletter (number 8). College of Arms (March 2006). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
