The use of hereditary peerages meant that some peers entered the House at a very young age. Indeed, some succeeded to their titles while they were minors and thus before being entitled to take their seats. The consequence was not only that the House had some young members but that it also had some long-serving members. The retention of some hereditary peers in the House, be it as elected hereditary peers or as hereditary peers who have been given life peerages, means that the House still has some long-serving members.
This week’s quiz questions:
1. The longest-serving peer is Lord Carrington, who succeeded to the peerage in 1938 and took his seat in 1940. He sits on the Conservative benches, and was in the House on Thursday for the debate on foreign affairs. Who is the second longest-serving peer on the Conservative benches?
2. Who is the longest-serving peer on the cross-benches?
3. Who is the longest-serving Labour peer?
As usual, the first two readers to supply the correct answers will be the winners.
UPDATE (Saturday evening): There are only three answers in so far – and only one of them is correct. There is still an opportunity for a keen reader to win…
1. Lord Denham (1948)
2. Viscount Colville of Culross (1954)
3. Lord Strabolgi (1953)
1. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu – 1947
2. Viscount Colville of Culross – 1954
3. Lord Strabolgi – 1953
Conservative – Lord Denham
Labour – Lord Strabolgi
Crossbench – Viscount Colville of Culross
1. Baron Denham
2. Earl of Snowdon
3. Lord Strabolgi
1) Lord Denham
2) Lord Ampthill
3) Lord Strabolgi
It’s probably too late, but:
1) Lord Denham, 1948
2) Lord Monson, 1961
3) Lord Stabolgi, 1953
I could be badly wrong about these though.
Of course, I meant Strabolgi rather Stabolgi!
Only one correct answer this week. Most respondents were caught out by the question as to the second longest-serving Conservative peer. Lord Denham is the third-longest serving. Lord Carrington entered the House in 1940, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in 1947 and Lord Denham in 1948. Lord Colville of Culross (entered 1954) is the longest-serving peer on the cross-benches (though he has not always been a cross-bencher) and Lord Strabolgi (entered 1953) is the longest-serving Labour peer.
Len (with his correction), Andrew Barrett and ChrisK got one answer correct, Jonathan and finnishcowl got two answers correct, but Jana is this week’s sole winner with all three correct answers.
Totally amazing – I’d just been at the pub too!