"But now well into his 64th year in the upper house, he is very much the longest serving. And in the next few months, it will all end. The 2nd Baron Trefgarne, to use his formal title, is one of the few hereditary peers still helping to make UK law, the tail end of a legislative chain dating back to the 13th century and Magna Carta."
"When Trefgarne entered the Lords in June 1962, life peerages had been in existence for only five years, meaning the bulk of the upper house was still based around fellow hereditary lawmakers. Reforms under Tony Blair's government slashed the number of hereditary peers to 92, a remaining rump selected by votes within the Lords. Trefgarne was among those selected by his fellow Conservatives, and thus remained."
"When one of these laws, the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, receives royal assent some time in the spring, that will be that. I'm very sorry, obviously, said Trefgarne. I was coming to the end of my time in the house, anyway. I have been there a long time. I go as often as I can. But I think it was inevitable eventually, and therefore I'm fairly relaxed about it."
David Trefgarne, 84, is the longest‑serving member of the House of Lords after 64 years. He will leave the upper chamber when the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill receives royal assent in spring, ending the remaining hereditary legislative seats. Trefgarne entered the Lords in June 1962, when life peerages were new and hereditary peers dominated the chamber. Reforms under Tony Blair reduced hereditary peers to 92, chosen by internal votes, and Trefgarne was selected by Conservative colleagues. His hereditary title dates from 1947, created for his father George Garro‑Jones. He described the change as the end of an era and constitutionally significant.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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