Gerry Adams in interesting company
Gerry Adams's appointment to an office of profit under the crown - Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead - has irritated Sinn Fein and shone a light on one of Westminster's more arcane procedures.
According to a fascinating produced by the House of Commons, the Manor of Northstead consisted of a number of fields and farms in the parish of Scalby in
the North Riding of Yorkshire.
"In 1600 the main property of this manor was described as "an old chamber ... a low house under it, unfit for habitation. Sir Richard Cholmley's shepherd
dwelt there until it fell down"."
Not that Mr Adams is expected to rest his head there. He follows an eclectic list of Stewards and Bailiffs of the Manor of Northstead - one of two options, the other being the Chiltern Hundreds, available to resigning MPs.
The "profit" element of this office appears to be nominal with its limited benefits confined to disqualification as a Member of Parliament.
Past office holders include Enoch Powell, Boris Johnson, Michael Martin, Robert Kilroy-Silk and the former Plaid Cymru MP Cynog Dafis: no news yet on whether Mr Adams has been in touch with his living predecessors for advice on how to fulfil his new role.
Hello. I'm David Cornock and I'm parliamentary correspondent for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales. This is the blog for the latest news and gossip from the Westminster village - with a Welsh accent.
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