How exactly is the title "Lord" gained in the UK?

Question

How exactly is the title "Lord" gained in the UK?

Answer 1

The quickest way to do it is to buy a piece of land in Scotland, there are gift packs specifically made to gain the title by buying a metre of land. It doesn't really get you anywhere in society but it does make it legal to put the title on documents...

Answer 2

The Queen has to give it to you. In practice, that means you have to impress the major political parties enough for them to advise the Queen to give it to you. This can indeed be done by making huge donations to a party, as other posters have said. But you can also be made a Lord (or a Baroness, if you're female) for being tremendously distinguished in some field or another, for example a scientist or surgeon (e.g. Professor Lord Darzi), an ex-Prime Minister (e.g. Baroness Thatcher).

Do not believe anyone who says you can buy the title "Lord", or that buying a square metre of Scottish land entitles you to call yourself "Lord". These are all scams designed to take money from the simple-minded.

However, British law permits you to call yourself anything you like, provided you don't do it to commit a fraud or pass yourself off as somebody else. So if you wanted to change your given name from John Jones to Lord Jones, with "Lord" as your personal name, that would be legal (provided there wasn't already a real Lord Jones and you aren't pretending to be him). It still wouldn't be a title. though.

Answer 3

Five ranks of peer exist in the UK, namely Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron; all male peers except dukes use the style "Lord X". The title "Lord" also applies by courtesy to certain of their children, e.g. the younger sons of dukes and marquesses can use the style "Lord (firstname) (lastname)". Many Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons use the style "Lord (title)." Barons, in particular, are almost never referred to as anything but "Lord X".

Senior judges use the title "Lord":

- the Law Lords or "Lords of Appeal in Ordinary" who have the rank of life barons

- judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, known as "Lords Justices of Appeal"

- judges of the Scottish Court of Session, known as "Lords of Council and Session"

Senior Judges in many commonwealth countries and ex-British Colonies, use the title "Lord":

- Judges of the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts of India are known as "Lords" or "Lord Justices" or "Lordships"

Note: Another English title, that of "Lord of the Manor", does not connote peerage and does not carry parliamentary rights. The title merely marks the holder as the owner of a manor who has certain local rights.

Answer 4

SAM has got it about right.

A lot of them are crooks and some have served time in jail, e.g Lord Archer.

Answer 5

You pay the reigning ruling party around £50000.

Answer 6

To be a lord is to be a peer of the realm.Titles like these are INHERITED,mostly. Very few subjects have done something so wonderful,so worthwhile so be made an hereditary peer.Lawrence Olivier,considered one of the greatest actors of all times,was one man to first be honored with a knighthood(Sir),then a peerage(Baron).Playwright Andrew Lloyd Webber was also made a peer;he is phenomenally successful at his job. This takes an Act of Parliament and the monarch's approval/recommendation.Being a Lord means that the holder can be nominated for a place in Parliament,in The House of Lords,a political position.Mere knights/dames can not be nominated for this government position.

Answer 7

Who your father is/was

What school you wen to

What club you belong to

What favours you provide to the Monarchy/Nobility

Who your friends are

How much you donate to political parties

That sort of thing

Answer 8

The Queen dishes them out, but you have to have the right blood.