Overview

This bill aims to grant husbands and civil partners of individuals holding certain titles (peers, baronets, baronesses, knights, and dames) the right to use the courtesy title "The Honourable," mirroring the existing practice for wives of titled men.

Description

The Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill seeks to amend existing practices surrounding the use of courtesy titles. Specifically:

• Clause 1: Grants the title "The Honourable" to husbands of women holding peerages, baronetcies, or damehoods.
• Clause 2: Extends the "The Honourable" title to civil partners of men and women holding peerages, baronetcies, knight or damehoods.
• Clause 3: Defines key terms, including the types of titles covered (UK and Irish peerages) and clarifies that the bill applies to marriages and civil partnerships recognized under UK law. It also stipulates that this new entitlement does not override any pre-existing customary usage of "The Honourable."
• Clause 4: Sets the short title of the bill, its effective date (two months after passage), and its extension to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on government spending as it primarily concerns the bestowal of honorary titles, not financial allocations.

Groups Affected

• Husbands of titled women: Will gain the right to use the title "The Honourable."
• Civil partners of titled men and women: Will also gain the right to use the title "The Honourable."
• The wider public: Will be expected to recognize the use of the title "The Honourable" in these new circumstances.

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