Boothby’s peerage

SIR – Harold Macmillan’s award of a peerage to Bob Boothby in 1958 did not indicate a “contempt for the honours system” on Macmillan’s part (Letters, March 10). He had long since come to accept his wife’s relationship with Boothby, and the pleasure that the title would give her was one factor in his decision. He was also glad to remove an increasingly unreliable, maverick MP from the Commons.

It was what Boothby himself wanted. He asked Macmillan for a peerage. In reply the prime minister told him to “enjoy the platform that the other House will give you. It will enable you to put forward your contributions in a much better atmosphere than the House of Commons now has.”

Lord Lexden (Con)

London SW1