Thatcher baronets
| Thatcher baronets | |
|---|---|
| Creation date | 7 December 1990 |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom |
| Peerage | Baronetage of the United Kingdom |
| First holder | Denis Thatcher |
| Present holder | Mark Thatcher |
| Heir apparent | Michael Thatcher |
| Remainder to | heirs male of the body of the grantee |
The Thatcher baronetcy, of Scotney in the County of Kent,[1] is a Baronetcy created for the businessman Denis Thatcher on 7 December 1990 following the resignation of his wife, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, that year. The current holder is Mark Thatcher, who succeeded his father in 2003.
It is the only baronetcy to be granted since 1964 (as of 2016)[2] and is one of only three extant hereditary titles awarded outside the royal family since 1965, the other being the Earldom of Stockton and Viscountcy Macmillan of Ovenden, both conferred on former Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1984.[3]
History
The baronetcy was created by the Queen, on the recommendation of John Major, the incoming Prime Minister, for Denis Thatcher when Margaret Thatcher, his wife, resigned as prime minister in 1990. The Speaker of the House of Commons was pressed to allow a debate relating to the revival of hereditary titles, but referred MPs to Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice and in particular to the guidance that "It has been ruled that the Prime Minister cannot be interrogated as to the advice that he may have given to the sovereign with regard to the grant of honours".[4] John Major told the Commons Public Administration Committee in May 2004 that he had been lobbied by 'influential figures' in the Conservative Party to make the recommendation, against his personal preference.[5] Mrs Thatcher was granted the Order of Merit at the same time[6][7] and was made a life peer after she stood down as an MP in 1992.
Mark Thatcher, their son, succeeded to the title in 2003. Following Sir Mark's conviction for his part in the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt there was pressure from some MPs for him to be stripped of the title.[8]
Thatcher baronets, of Scotney (1990)
- Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet (1915–2003)
- Sir Mark Thatcher, 2nd Baronet (born 1953)
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Michael Thatcher (born 1989).
At present, there are no others in the line of succession.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 52443. p. 1993. 7 February 1991.
- ↑ "The Baronetage". Debretts. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
The creation of baronetcies lapsed in 1964; in 1990 the Conservative Government announced that this honour would be given to Denis Thatcher, but there have been no further creations
- ↑ Viscountcies were conferred on George Thomas, retiring Speaker of the House of Commons and William Whitelaw, incumbent Deputy Prime Minister, in 1983. However, both died without male heirs, at which point these titles became extinct.
- ↑ "Points of Order". 18 December 1990.
- ↑ Barnett, Antony; Bright, Martin (16 January 2005). "Pressure grows to strip Thatcher title". The Guardian. London.
- ↑ "Chronicle". The New York Times. 8 December 1990. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ "Obituary: Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt". London: The Telegraph. 27 June 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ "Sir Mark Thatcher". They work for you.