The Queen’s nephew, David Armstrong-Jones and the Earl of Snowdon, is running to be a hereditary peer in a bizarre election
The Queen’s nephew, a 24-year-old aspiring banker and a formal naval commander have all joined Britain’s strangest election race for a life-long seat in the Lords.
The men are all among the candidates for next hereditary peer by-election, in which only the descendants of those with eligible titles can stand and only other a select group of 31 existing peers can vote.
A hustings for the coveted post will be held in the House of Lords next week before the winner is selected in a secret ballot on July 3.
The winner can serve for life, or until they choose to retire, claiming their £300 a day tax-free allowance regardless of how much they contribute to proceedings.
There are 19 candidates in the running to be a new crossbench peer – replacing the retiring Earl Baldwin of Bewdley.
As well as the Queen’s nephew the Earl of Snowdon – who is 19th in line to the throne – Cody Tennant, 24-year-old Lord Glenconner, wants the seat.
The Earl of Effingham is a retired naval commander while the Earl of Devon is a California attorney based in Devon.
Each candidate is allowed to issue a 75-word statement to peers to say why they should be elected to the red benches.
Lord Glenconner promoted his Masters degree from the University of Aberdeen and said: ‘I take a great interest in politics and legislation.
‘I will shortly be embarking on a career in the financial services. Being of an independent mind and spirit I believe I can contribute to the important work of the House.’
Earl Effingham said: ‘I am a former National President for the Royal British Legion and am a retired naval Commander so am well versed on their core activities, welfare, disabilities, event planning, charity race days, pensions, Gulf War illnesses, lottery effect on charity giving, poppy appeal, job recruitment, care home support and wheelchair services.
In his mini manifesto, Lord Glenconner promoted his Masters degree from the University of Aberdeen and said: ‘I take a great interest in politics and legislation.
Earl Snowdown declined to offer any promises or claims to his colleagues ahead of the election next week
Another candidate, the Earl of Effingham, said he was ‘not past my sell buy date’ as he bidded for a return to the Lords after losing out to earlier reforms to hereditary peers
‘Although I am confined to a wheelchair I am not past my sell by date and have been active in the past in general debates.’
Earl Snowdown declined to offer a brief manifesto.
To win, the successful peer needs the support of half the electors – in this case 16 of 32.
The field is whittled down using the Alternative Vote system, where the voters rank candidates by order of preference.