Tony Benn’s son joins the House of Lords as an hereditary peer nearly sixty years after the left-wing firebrand politician renounced his ‘absolutely mad’ title of Viscount Stansgate
- Tony Benn’s eldest son is set to join the House of Lords as an hereditary peer
- Stephen Benn has become 3rd Viscount Stansgate and ‘elected’ by other peers
- Mr Benn senior campaigned to renounce the title in 1963 branding system ‘mad’
Tony Benn’s son is set to join the House of Lords nearly 60 years after the left-wing firebrand renounced his ‘absolutely mad’ title.
Stephen Benn, otherwise known as the 3rd Viscount Stansgate, will be confirmed as a member of the upper house this week after being ‘elected’ unopposed to the Labour group.
It marks a dramatic turnaround for the family, after Mr Benn senior campaigned to be able to shun his aristocratic status.
He had been Labour MP for Bristol before the death of his father made him the 2nd Viscount Stansgate, resulting in his automatic expulsion from the Commons.
But Mr Benn later managed to overturn the three-centuries old constitutional rules, and renounced his title in 1963 – rejoining the elected House soon afterwards and going on to serve in the Cabinet.
Tony Benn (left) renounced his title in 1963 but his eldest son Stephen (right) is about to rejoin the House of Lords. Pictured centre, Mr Benn senior’s granddaughter Emily
Stephen Benn, otherwise known as the 3rd Viscount Stansgate, will be confirmed as a member of the upper house this week after being ‘elected’ unopposed to the Labour group
In 2006 the veteran socialist said the hereditary system was ‘absolutely mad’.
‘I wouldn’t like to go to a dentist who, just before he drilled my teeth, told me he was not a dentist himself, but that his father had been a very good dentist,’ he said.
The number of hereditary peers was slashed to 92 by Tony Blair’s government as part of a wider overhaul.
However, when members die, retire or are expelled the other hereditary peers vote to decide on a replacement from a register of aristocrats.
The Clerk of the Parliaments, Simon Burton, informed the House on Friday that the current Viscount Stansgate will be joining.
The 69-year-old, who has worked in the biosciences industry, is the oldest of Mr Benn’s children, and inherited the title on his death in 2014.
In his candidate statement for the by-election, Viscount Stansgate said: ‘A Labour Party member for 44 years, I’m standing in this election to be a working Peer.
‘I have spent my professional life developing the relationship between Science and Parliament.
‘I’m currently Vice President of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee and Chair of its Council.
‘Science has never been more important to the future of this country and the world as we seek solutions to the challenges we face. I hope to continue this work.’
The appointment means he will be able to take part in making laws and claim tax-free allowances for attending sittings.
‘In the by-election following the death of Lord Rea on 1 June 2020, there was only one candidate,’ Mr Burton wrote.
‘There was therefore no requirement for a ballot to take place and accordingly, the Clerk of the Parliaments certified that Viscount Stansgate was the successful candidate.
‘I will announce this formally to the House on Monday 12 July.’
There have been repeated demands in the Lords to scrap the contests used to fill vacancies caused by the death, resignation or expulsion of hereditary peers.
The system has faced widespread criticism given the exclusive male-dominated list of eligible candidates and the limited number of people able to vote.
The 92 hereditary places in the Lords are unaffected by steps to curb the size of the unelected chamber.
However, previous legislative attempts to end the system have been thwarted by some hereditary peers, with accusations of filibustering and wrecking tactics.
The Clerk of the Parliaments, Simon Burton, informed the House on Friday that the current Viscount Stansgate will be joining
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