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| Earl of Devon elected to the Lords in a poll of his hereditary peers | Earl of Devon elected to the Lords in a poll of his hereditary peers |
| (7 months later) | |
| An old Etonian aristocrat has won a lifetime seat in the House of Lords in a hereditary peer byelection with just seven votes. | An old Etonian aristocrat has won a lifetime seat in the House of Lords in a hereditary peer byelection with just seven votes. |
| Charles Peregrine Courtenay, the earl of Devon, was among 19 aristocrats who stood for an election decided by 31hereditary crossbench peers. | Charles Peregrine Courtenay, the earl of Devon, was among 19 aristocrats who stood for an election decided by 31hereditary crossbench peers. |
| A practising barrister, Courtenay defeated his rivals, Lord Aldington and Lord Ravensdale, in the runoff. | A practising barrister, Courtenay defeated his rivals, Lord Aldington and Lord Ravensdale, in the runoff. |
| Courtenay, the 19th earl of Devon, owns the 12th-century ancestral home of Powderham Castle. In his candidate’s statement he referred to the property as his “800-year-old family SME, incorporating heritage tourism, sustainable land management, and community wellbeing”. | Courtenay, the 19th earl of Devon, owns the 12th-century ancestral home of Powderham Castle. In his candidate’s statement he referred to the property as his “800-year-old family SME, incorporating heritage tourism, sustainable land management, and community wellbeing”. |
| He added: “I am 42, an able advocate and determinedly independent. I would be honoured to champion Devon in this House. I am London-based weekly.” | He added: “I am 42, an able advocate and determinedly independent. I would be honoured to champion Devon in this House. I am London-based weekly.” |
| The Queen’s nephew, the Earl of Snowdon, was among those whose name was put forward for the byelection, raising eyebrows that a member of the royal family would seek to join the legislature, but later withdrew from the contest. | The Queen’s nephew, the Earl of Snowdon, was among those whose name was put forward for the byelection, raising eyebrows that a member of the royal family would seek to join the legislature, but later withdrew from the contest. |
| Other candidates includedLord Monson, an anti-skunk cannabis campaigner, and Lord Glenconner, a 24-year-old graduate. Both failed to win any votes. | Other candidates includedLord Monson, an anti-skunk cannabis campaigner, and Lord Glenconner, a 24-year-old graduate. Both failed to win any votes. |
| Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said the election made “a mockery of our democracy” and that it was particularly egregious that it was held during National Democracy week. | Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said the election made “a mockery of our democracy” and that it was particularly egregious that it was held during National Democracy week. |
| The slot became available after the retirement of the crossbencher Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. The system of such byelections followed the House of Lords Act 1999, which removed most of the hereditary peers from the upper house, and left seats for just 92, intended to be a temporary solution. | The slot became available after the retirement of the crossbencher Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. The system of such byelections followed the House of Lords Act 1999, which removed most of the hereditary peers from the upper house, and left seats for just 92, intended to be a temporary solution. |
| Byelections are held whenever vacancies occur, because of death or retirement. | Byelections are held whenever vacancies occur, because of death or retirement. |
| In April 2016 seven candidates put themselves forward for a Liberal Democrat seat in an election decided by just three voters because only three hereditary peers in the Lords were Lib Dem members. | In April 2016 seven candidates put themselves forward for a Liberal Democrat seat in an election decided by just three voters because only three hereditary peers in the Lords were Lib Dem members. |
| Only candidates who have inherited a title are eligible to stand, and only if they have put their name forward to be included on the register of hereditary peers. Out of 211 on the list only one is a woman. There is only one female hereditary peer sitting in the Lords, the Countess of Mar. | Only candidates who have inherited a title are eligible to stand, and only if they have put their name forward to be included on the register of hereditary peers. Out of 211 on the list only one is a woman. There is only one female hereditary peer sitting in the Lords, the Countess of Mar. |
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