Monthly Archives: May 2018

Meghan Markle And The Law Of Arms

Posted on May 25, 2018 by jasonloch

The fact that the Duchess of Sussex’s father, Thomas Markle, hasn’t been given a coat of arms has caused a bit of controversy in the tabloid press. The Duchess’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, claims that it is a “huge insult” … Continue reading →

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The House Of Lords Is Finally Shrinking…Hooray!

Posted on May 23, 2018 by jasonloch

Theresa May’s decision to create thirteen new peers has provoked some caustic commentary in the British press. Even the conservative Daily Telegraph couldn’t resist running a snarky piece predicting that the House could grow to 1,000 members by 2031. There’s just one problem: … Continue reading →

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Brexit, The House of Lords, And The Salisbury-Addison Convention

Posted on May 22, 2018 by jasonloch

After a tumultuous twenty days of scrutiny, the House of Lords finally passed the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill last week. It now returns to the House of Commons, where MPs will have to decide whether to accept or reject the … Continue reading →

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A Quick Guide To The British Peerage

Posted on May 19, 2018 by jasonloch

The news that the Queen has made Prince Harry Duke of Sussex has led numerous American media outlets to try to explain the peerage to their audiences. Alas, their reporters often seem to struggle with the subject, so I thought … Continue reading →

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Can John Bercow Survive As Speaker?

Posted on May 18, 2018 by jasonloch

Commons Speaker John Bercow’s reputation grows more and more tattered with each passing day. First, there were the accusations of bullying from two of his former private secretaries, one of whom was allegedly treated so badly that she developed post-traumatic … Continue reading →

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Great Offices Of State vs. Great Officers Of State

Posted on May 10, 2018 by jasonloch

When Sajid Javid was appointed Home Secretary, he became the first person of color to hold one of the Great Offices of State. However, he is not the first person of color to be a Great Officer of State–that honor … Continue reading →

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