Longest-Serving Hereditary Peer Reflects on End of an Era in the House of Lords
David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving hereditary peer in the House of Lords, having served for 64 years since he inherited the title in June 1962 at the age of 21 from his father, George Garro-Jones, a former Liberal and later Labour MP.
Trefgarne has had a notable political career, including ministerial roles under Margaret Thatcher's government, such as serving as a junior Foreign Office minister in 1982, where he participated in debates concerning the Falklands War.
Despite personal losses, including the death of his wife which led to a quieter year, he remains active in the House of Lords through voting and speaking engagements.
The impending House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, expected to receive royal assent in April, will end the role of hereditary peers in the Lords, marking the conclusion of a legislative tradition that Trefgarne notes dates back to Magna Carta and King John.
In 2016, he publicly opposed abolishing internal Lords by-elections for retiring or deceased hereditary peers. However, he recognizes that reform is inevitable given its inclusion in Labour's manifesto.
