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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Fys (talk | contribs) at 12:32, 7 January 2006 (→Baroness: no, I don't think so). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Honourable is right; the Right Honourable is wrong

It's OK, I don't charge for evening tutorials!

Neil Kinnock was elected Leader of the Opposition in 1983. Thereby, Mr Kinnock became a Privy Council member, and remains so for life. His formal title was then the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock MP PC. Glenys remained Mrs Glenys Kinnock (ie she wasn't a PC member, so couldn't be described as the Rt Hon Mrs Glenys Kinnock) until she was elected as an MEP in 1994. Then, she became Glenys Kinnock MEP.

Neil Kinnock was ennobled in 2005. He is still a member of the Privy Council, and can thus be addressed Rt Hon The Baron Kinnock etc. Glenys could, I suppose, insist on being addressed as The Hon. Baroness Kinnock etc but, apart from on formal embossed invitations, that would sound a bit naff. So, I think you should drop the silly Hon. (certainly forget all about her husband's Rt Hon) title, and just call her Baroness or Lady Kinnock. Then, we can all go back to sleep!Phase1 22:55, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

I refer you to http://www.debretts.co.uk/peerage_and_baronetage/peers.html which states that "A baron is styled Right Honourable and formally by the Sovereign Right trusty and well-beloved cousin (and counsellor when a Member of the Privy Council)." This applies equally to a baroness in her own right, which is what a Life Baroness is, and this is why peers who are Privy Counsellors have the letters PC appended to denote their membership.--Westminsterboy 23:16, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for this Debretts reference. The extract you quote seems to resolve the point at issue, until it continues:

"The Life Barons' wives rank as Baronesses, and are entitled to the prefix of 'Lady', while their children, and those of Life Baronesses, are styled 'Hon' for life and hold special precedence. The husband of a Life Baroness, however, does not receive any special prefix or style by virtue of their wife's title."

We are, I think, agreed that Neil Kinnock became a Life Baron in 2005, which ranks Glenys Kinnock a Baroness and entitles her to the prefix of 'Lady'. Where we disagree is whether Lady Kinnock is a Life Baroness in her own right. I don't think she is a Life Baroness: could you please confirm.

Since the husband of a Life Baroness is not styled Right Honourable, I doubt (but am open to persuasion) that the wife of a Life Baron can be styled Right Honourable—ergo, she is plain Baroness Kinnock, as I have been arguing above.Phase1 15:32, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

Phase1 is wrong. Peers and Peeresses below the rank of Marquess or Marchioness, whether in their own right or by right of their husband, are "The Right Honourable" by virtue of the peerage. Proteus (Talk) 14:53, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

What is the chapter and verse for your assertion, Proteus? According to Debretts, the husband of a Life Baroness is not "The Right Honourable" so where is your evidence about the styling of the wife of a Life Baron?Phase1 17:43, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

Every book on etiquette ever written. Perhaps you should try reading one before giving "evening tutorials". (And perhaps you should start by looking at what Debrett's says before declaring that it supports your random assertions.) Proteus (Talk) 18:03, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

Fair enough, Proteus: I said earlier that I was open to persuasion on the matter. You give a valid reference to Debretts Correct Form which says that, on an envelope, the wife of a Baron should be addressed "The Right Honourable". I therefore stand corrected. Does the wife, however, have a say in all this? For example, could Glenys Kinnock MEP decline to accept the style and title that goes with her husband's peerage?Phase1 23:57, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

She could, of course, decline to use it, as is the case with all titles and styles. Legally, however, she has it whether she likes it or not, and would be styled with it in official documentation, and we always start articles with official names, regardless of the personal preference of the person concerned. Proteus (Talk) 11:20, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Baroness

The title 'Baroness' is reserved for Baronesses in their own right, and not for the wives of Barons. The wife of Baron X is 'Lady X'. David | Talk 00:25, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

Absolute nonsense. Wives of Barons are Baronesses, they're just known as "Lady X", in exactly the same way as their husbands are known as "Lord X" not "Baron X". I suggest you go and read up on the Peerage. (And "reserved for" suggests some kind of legal restriction, which simply isn't the case. If Lady Kinnock wanted to call herself "Baroness Kinnock", she wouldn't be complying with the conventions of correct form but she wouldn't be incorrect.) Proteus (Talk) 12:03, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

The number of current reference books which refer to the wife of a Baron as a Baroness is zero. Practically no-one concerned with the subject uses this form of address. There is no 'technical' right answer to this question since forms of address are merely custom and practice. I suggest that it hardly helps to inform people who may be unfamiliar with the subject to make what is a misleading reference, and it is also particularly unhelpful to have no way of distinguishing between those two entirely different concepts: a Baroness in her own right, and a wife of a Baron. Finally, it might be better if you expressed yourself in a more moderate way. David | Talk 12:32, 7 January 2006 (UTC)