Letter: Our noble Lords

Eric Thompson
Monday 08 November 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: The reference to "Britain's first elected peers of the realm" in a headline (report, 6 November) was misleading.

After the Act of Union between Scotland and England in 1707, the Scottish peers - there were then more than 130 - elected 16 of their number to sit with the 170 English peers in the House of Lords. Such elections continued until the Peerage Act of 1963 gave all Scottish peers the right to sit in the House of Lords.

Similarly, the 1800 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland allowed the 170 Irish peers to elect 28 representative peers to join the 260 British peers in the House of Lords. Such elections were held until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 abolished the post of Lord Chancellor of Ireland, who had arranged the elections.

ERIC THOMPSON

London NW2

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in