Where men are not equal

Surprising as it may seem, there is a legal area where men are not equal. The wish to rectify this was the object of The Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill, introduced into the House of Commons in July by the Conservative MP Oliver Colville. It sought to remedy a curious, but ancient, lacuna in the law of this country, whereby although women share their husband’s rank and status, husbands do not share that of their wives. This ranges from the sovereign downwards, and is clearly at odds with the present laws of equality and equal treatment, and even with human rights legislation. The Bill also covers civil partners.

Under the current system women take the “same rank as their husbands or as their brothers; but the daughter of a peer marrying a commoner retains her rank as Lady or Honourable”. Merely official rank on the husband’s part does not