Malcolm Bruce took his seat in the Lords this week. He was resplendent in the traditional robes.
There was a bit of a negotiation over his title, as the Press and Journal reports:
Lord Bruce previously told The Press and Journal he opted to include the famous Aberdeenshire landmark in his name because it is visible from everywhere in his old constituency.
It was initially rejected on the grounds the hill is not a “habitation”, but a lengthier form – Baron Bruce of Bennachie of Torphins in the County of Aberdeen – was later accepted.
He will be able to use the shortened form on a day-to-day basis.
Sir Malcolm, who was named in the dissolution honours list, was nominated by then-party leader Nick Clegg.
Asked about choosing a name, he said he could not have Gordon, because there have been dukes of Gordon, or Kintore or Inverurie, which are existing titles.
He added: “Bennachie is characteristic of the constituency. You can see it from everywhere.”
He also revealed that after choosing the name, he climbed the Mither Tap “just to see if I could”.
Photo above reproduced with permission from Rosemary Bruce
Photo below shows Malcolm Bruce at Bennachie:
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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5 Comments
Two questions: why is she sitting down, and what century are we in?
Lester – Lord Bruce is from a generation where if there was only one seat the lady had it, perhaps that’s the reason why she’s sitting. As for your question about which century we are in, I know the Lords maybe out dated, but many people enjoy all the dressing up and history surrounding it. Anyway, it was a big day for Lord Bruce after a lifetime of service and he and his family should all feel very proud.
I think the title in the headline may be missing a comma…
And has there really previously been a Lord (or Lady) Bruce of Kintore?
Just wondering.
It’s time that Lib Dems stopped taking seats in the unelected and undemocratic second chamber, and time for the second chamber to go. It may well be the place that has the most Lib Dems right now but it’s part of our electoral future fortunes and has to go, we start the process by refusing to take seats in it. Until we do that then we will not start to recover as a party, we need to stand up for what we are supposed to believe in.
I’m sorry he campaigned to reduce the whiskey escalator in the last budget instead of supporting minimum pricing……… not universally popular with the transplant unit at Edinburgh Royal… but popular with big business.