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Saturday, September 5, 2009

So, what's a title really worth?

Recently the media has made much about the disgraced Speaker of the House, Michael Martin MP, being 'honoured' with the title 'Baron Martin of Springburn, of Port Dundas in the city of Glasgow.' Now, I can readily agree with many of those who say that he should not have had this title conferred upon him, being, as he is, the first Speaker to be forced to resign from Parliament in 300 years, yet it beggars the question as to what these titles are really worth.

The whole system of peerages and titles has been questionable from the start, having often been abused by those with the power to influence or confer the titles. For example, being the illegitimate offspring of a member of royalty, especially if the offspring in question is a son, pretty well guarantees that a title will be conferred, and that title will be hereditary, which is even worse.

There can be no doubt that many people who have had titles conferred upon them have deserved to have their valour and integrity honoured, but the problem for me is that the huge swathes of characters elected to the Upper House or dubbed with a Knighthood, receive the honours as part of either a bargain struck with the government or as a retirement gift which will ensure that the ride on the Gravy Train of Corruption will be maintained. For a prime example of this we need only to look at the long queue of MPs, disgraced by the recent Expenses Scandal, who are waiting to be elevated to the Upper House. Ah well, it's said that there is honour amongst thieves, isn't it!

Would I ever want to accept one of these honours in the (unlikely) event that I was offered one? Most definitely not! Why would I want to be grouped together with the likes of those who infamously hold, or have held, the assortment of odd titles that they have received as a result of their lying and cheating their way through the political system of the Nation?

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