Hereditary Peerage Association

The Hereditary Peerage Association was formed in 2002 by the merger of the Association of Hereditary Peers and TOPs, both of which organizations were set up in the wake of the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, under which all but 92 hereditary peers were deprived of the seats, which had hitherto been theirs by right of birth, in the House of Lords.
   
The purpose of the HPA is to protect the remaining rights and dignities of the hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom and Ireland, to provide a continuing link between members of the peerage, and to act as a forum in which matters of common concern to peers can be raised and discussed.
   
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The latest site revision was 10/06/2025 but all pages show the date of their last revisions if earlier.

Letter from the Joint Chairman

The Hereditary Peerage Association was formed in 2002 with the idea that it might provide a digital and, through occasional events, a social platform for those peers who were expelled from the House of Lords in 1999 and for newly inheriting peers to meet and exchange views. Membership was open to all hereditary peers whether still in the House or expelled from it or never got into it, and their immediate heirs.

The HPA started life with a number of regular lunches and events and a system whereby members could debate subjects of interest on the website. As time went by enthusiasm waned, membership dropped away either because members died or failed to inform the Association of changes of physical or email addresses or, when the Association changed its bank, failed to execute new bankers orders. Today, only a handful of members still pay their very modest £15 annual subscription and I hate to admit it but the 82 year old joint chairman and part time secretary, yours truly, has long passed his sell-by date.

Nevertheless it would seem that the those hereditary peers about to pack their bags in the Palace of Westminster could add some fresh impetus to membership if properly encouraged.

As this is being written, the new House of Lords bill is making its way through the parliamentary process and looking not just to end the rather strange electoral fudge by which the sitting hereditary peers were themselves the electorate which chose successors to those of their colleagues who resigned or died, but finally to expel virtually all of the remaining hereditary members of the House. As in 1999, no doubt a few stalwarts will be awarded life peerages, but essentially the life peers, sometimes referred to as the 'day boys' will have finally evicted the 'boarders'.

In this brave new world, the HPA is therefore seeking a new part-time executive team to carry it forward and to exploit the undoubted potential which could, after a well organised membership drive, be harnessed. This could include in-house travel agency, insurance services, publishing, arranging speaking events and the like, as well, dare one say it, a little political influencing. Much is possible. The Association has money in the bank and simply needs new enthusiastic leadership.

The ideal candidates might be young peers, their sons or daughters or persons with a complementary activity which could run alongside management of the HPA. Some knowledge and familiarity with the peerage would of course be helpful.

Anyone with any interest in this opportunity should contact me in the first instance at tt@byng.net,

Tim Torrington

10th July. 2025.