Another legislator-for-life has brought attention to the absurdity of the pernicious official class system in Britain. Conrad Black, a Canadian-born businessman and British “Lord” has been found guilty of fraud and obstruction of justice in an American court. Black may be sent to prison by an American judge but the British people have no way of ejecting him from their legislature nor of taking away his official honour.
Following the guilty finding the Conservative Party, which nominated Mr. Black for his seat in the legislature, announced that he had been expelled from their House of Lords group. Newspapers reported that the government planned legislation that would allow unelected legislators to be removed from office if they are found guilty of serious crimes.
Mr. Black adopted British nationality because Canada will not allow Ms. Windsor to give honours such as peerages to Canadians. He is a “life peer”, which means the title will not be passed on to a family member. Ninety members of the British legislature inherited their seats.