Lord Remnant and Lord Wrottesley win hereditary peers by-election
2 min read
Lord Remnant and Lord Wrottesley have been chosen as the newest hereditary peers in a by-election triggered by the retirement of Lord Brabazon of Tara and the death of Lord Swinfen.
Lord Remnant is a “lifelong Conservative” who promised in his candidate statement to “commit enthusiastically to the Lords” after “reducing business interests”.
Lord Wrottesley, an Irish Olympian and Old Etonian, submitted a characterful statement describing himself as a “closet tree hugger” chiefly interested in the environment, defence and housing.
Wrottesley was removed from the House of Lords in 1999 under the House of Lords Act, which abolished the automatic right of hereditary peers to seats in Parliament and restricted the group to 92.
“I took my seat 25 years ago, but relative youth meant not offering myself for election,” the peer said.
Among the unsuccessful candidates was the Earl of Dudley, a musician who offered as a statement a link to his YouTube channel featuring eccentric music videos.
Lord Brabazon of Tara retired from the Lords in April after a 46-year stint. Lord Swinfen, a philanthropist and member of various parliamentary committees, died in June.
The results were announced on Wednesday following a contest held on Tuesday in which 41 valid ballots were cast. 45 sitting Conservative hereditary peers were eligible to vote in the by-election.
The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system was used, allowing voting peers to rank the 12 candidates standing in order of preference. Since 2002, by-elections are held whenever vacancies arise.
Lord Grocott, who has repeatedly introduced legislation to scrap the hereditary peer by-elections, told The House: “There have now been 11 peers elected in these ridiculous by-elections over the last 12 months.
“The overwhelming view of the House of Lords is that they should be scrapped, and it is up to the government to back my Private Members’ Bill that would do it.”
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