Scrap the rules that stop women from inheriting family peerages

Everywhere today I am told that as a female, I need to “raise my voice” against sexism. I am not a feminist; I cannot abide the word and all it misrepresents. If I must label myself, I am a gender equalist and I want to call out one area where women’s rights to fair treatment are being violated.

In Britain, the rules of male primogeniture can still mean that if there is a family title, and accompanying seat to be passed down through generations, this can legally only go to a man. Women are disregarded entirely. If there is no direct male to inherit, the title goes to the next male in line who, in some cases, is a fourth cousin once-removed – as is the case of Audley End, the seat of the late Baron Braybrooke, who had seven daughters – who has possibly never visited the home he is due to inherit. Watch Downton Abbey and you get the picture. But Downton was set in 1912 – it’s 2020.

The Queen changed the law for her family in 2013 with the Succession of the Crown Act which states that the eldest child, regardless of sex, precedes his or her brothers and sisters, so if Princess Charlotte had been born before Prince George she would have inherited the crown over her brother. But the Queen did not have a say over inheritance laws for other folk. This is a decision for the Prime Minister.

The current rules don’t just malign a bunch of girls who want a jolly nice house and a title. With these titles comes the chance to be elected to one of the 92 seats still reserved for hereditary peers in the House of Lords that have been held almost exclusively by men.

I have witnessed the unfairness of these laws on both sides of my family. My father Roderick is the Earl of Balfour. He has four daughters; when he dies, his title will be inherited by his brother (because he is male) and then his brother’s second child (ditto). This means that my eldest sister Willa could not get a seat in the Lords to help make decisions about our nation. What a pity. She is wise, grounded, level-headed. A busy mother of three. A valued neighbour – exactly the qualities we need.

My mother Tessa is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. When Grandpa Norfolk (Miles) died in 2002, her brother Edward (the fourth child but the only male) inherited the dukedom – along with the castle, land and responsibilities that come with it. The Duke of Norfolk holds the hereditary position of Earl Marshal, organising state occasions such as the coronation and the opening of Parliament.

Uncle Eddie has done all that with aplomb. And he has shared the castle with us all generously. Not for a second am I maligning him or asking for the castle to be handed to my mother. I am calling for the laws to be changed for those next in line. Such a change would not benefit me. I am a second daughter so my status remains as is. And yes – both titles came to my direct family line only because those who held them before had no sons. But if a duke can walk in front of the Queen when she opens Parliament, I am sure a duchess can, too.

British laws should be changed so that the firstborn inherits, irrespective of gender. And should that firstborn wish to swap gender at any time, it should still go to that firstborn. The Government’s refusal to do this is being challenged in the European Court of Human Rights, but it is ridiculous that this is even necessary.

Boris Johnson has it in his power to end this injustice, bring the aristocracy into the 21st century and give the daughters of hereditary peers a fair chance to take up seats in Parliament. It is more important than ever that he takes it.