Should titles be inherited ?

[modeller]

The current Lord Kitchener 92 has no children or male heirs so when he dies the title will die out.
He has a niece who is a decendant of the famous Earl Kitchener but being a woman she can not inherit the title and her husband Julian Fellows ( creator of Downton Abbey ) is complaining that the system is all wrong and his wife should inherit the title. See today's Telegraph .
This raises several questions.

1. Should there be any titles at all ?
2. Or if there are should they be inherited ?.
3. Should women be able to inherit the title ?
4. Should titles only be earned and die out when you die.?

[Old_Geezer]

Inherited ? Not they should be abolished. This act of implying someone is more important that another simply because of who their parents were. Unacceptable in a civilised society.

[elgreco]

I am from working class stock. From what I can see, The House of Lords is no better now with all the major party cronies sitting (or sleeping) there than it was before with the hereditary peers. Costs more now too. If we keep the peerage system, then hereditary peerage should certainly be passed down through the eldest descendant, male or female.

[Frank97]

Agree with Old_Geezer, titles should be earned imo.

[Zeuhl]

Don't see any problem inheriting a title any more than inheriting any other property entitlement such as ownership of land, houses, businesses etc

The issue is that they should not have any privileged entitlement to make decisions on the governance of the country and the rest of us.

If we need a second chamber we might be better off with ERNIE selecting a representative group of citizens to discuss and sign off legislation.

[sandyRoe]

If Princess Anne had been the first born in her family she wouldn't have been in line for the throne. If there has to be titles then the first born should inherit them.

[jno]

you can call yourself what you like, as Duke Ellington and Count Basie did; don't bother me none. I agree with Zeuhl that it shouldn't give you any special privileges, though. Anyone in the House of Lords should have to work for their money.

But the idea that Mark Thatcher - having done nothing but attempt coups - is a Sir and a second Baronet, and his twin is nothing, annoys me.

[modeller]

// Don't see any problem inheriting a title any more than inheriting any other property entitlement such as ownership of land, houses, businesses etc//
Property is a totallyl different matter.
But what is the point of a title that is inherited ?

Very few children inherit the talents which ennobled their ancester in the first place so I can't see their titles value to society. Could be the reverse .
If my father was enobled because he was genius and I'm an idiot. What is the point of me being Lord Something or other.

Sandy I agree. However I think the royal family are not a part of government . They are a symbol of our nation and need to be treated as a separate entity. They represent stability unlike Presidents.

[Zeuhl]

<<What is the point of me being Lord Something or other. >>

Because you inherit the property.

You get the house, lands, rents due etc. Most of us are 'Lord of the Manor' of some patch of Britain and will pass it on to our children whether they have 'earned it' or not.

The only distinction that matters with Kitchener et al is the inappropriate privilege the House of Lords provides in enabling them abobe others to influence legislation.

[BrainsTracy]

1. Yes
2. No
3. see 2.
4. Yes

[modeller]

zeuhl // Because you inherit the property.//
Sorry you have lost me .Could you explain .
If I own a house and land ,rents etc . My family would still inherit it all. They don't have to have a title as well. In fact the eldest son could inherit the title and everything else could go elsewhere.
This has happened in the past where a landowner has given his whole estate to the National Trust . He still kept his title. The title was entirely separate from the land. When you think about it Lords constantly sell off land , very often because of inheritance Tax

[steg]

1 yes
2 yes, i could of never afforded to buy my title and i'm too lazy to earn it
3 no, not mine
4 i may die, but my title will live on