Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925
Encyclopedia
The Honours Act 1925 is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, that makes the sale of peerage
s or any other honours
illegal. It was brought in after the Liberal Party
government of David Lloyd George
, (later 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor) was embroiled in a widespread and long-term sale of honours, for the personal financial gain of the Prime Minister, in a then-legal abuse of the Prime Minister
's powers of patronage
.
Only one person has ever been convicted under the Act — Maundy Gregory
, Lloyd George's "honours broker" — whose actions were the main cause of the Act in the first place.
In March 2006, the Metropolitan Police
confirmed that, following complaints by the Scottish National Party
and others, they were investigating possible breaches of the Act. A total of £14 million in loans was given by wealthy individuals to Labour during the 2005 general election campaign
and four of these men were subsequently nominated for Life Peerages. (see main article Cash for Honours)
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, that makes the sale of peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
s or any other honours
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
illegal. It was brought in after the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
government of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, (later 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor) was embroiled in a widespread and long-term sale of honours, for the personal financial gain of the Prime Minister, in a then-legal abuse of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
's powers of patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
.
Only one person has ever been convicted under the Act — Maundy Gregory
Maundy Gregory
Arthur Maundy Gregory was a British theatre producer and political fixer who is best remembered for selling honours for Prime Minister David Lloyd George. He may also have been involved with the Zinoviev Letter, the disappearance of Victor Grayson, and the suspicious death of his platonic...
, Lloyd George's "honours broker" — whose actions were the main cause of the Act in the first place.
In March 2006, the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
confirmed that, following complaints by the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
and others, they were investigating possible breaches of the Act. A total of £14 million in loans was given by wealthy individuals to Labour during the 2005 general election campaign
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
and four of these men were subsequently nominated for Life Peerages. (see main article Cash for Honours)
External links
- BBC News article about the announcement of the investigation
- Posting from the blog of BBC News political editor Nick RobinsonNick RobinsonNicholas Anthony "Nick" Robinson is a British journalist and political editor for the BBC. Robinson was interested in politics from a young age, and went on to study a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree at Oxford University, where he was also President of the Oxford University Conservative...
about the Act and the possibility of prosecutions, 21 March 2006. - Parliamentary briefing document on the awarding of Honours, September 2004 (PDF document)