Creation date 7 December 1990 Present holder Mark Thatcher | First holder Denis Thatcher Heir apparent Michael Thatcher | |
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Monarch Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Peerage Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
The Thatcher baronetcy, of Scotney in the County of Kent, is a Baronetcy created for the businessman Denis Thatcher on 7 December 1990 following the resignation of his wife, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, that year. The current holder is Mark Thatcher, who succeeded his father in 2003.
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It is the only baronetcy to be granted since 1964 (as of 2016) and is one of only three extant hereditary titles awarded outside the royal family since 1965, the other being the Earldom of Stockton and Viscountcy Macmillan of Ovenden, both conferred on former Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1984.
History
The baronetcy was created by the Queen, on the recommendation of John Major, the incoming Prime Minister, for Denis Thatcher when Margaret Thatcher, his wife, resigned as prime minister in 1990. The Speaker of the House of Commons was pressed to allow a debate relating to the revival of hereditary titles, but referred MPs to Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice and in particular to the guidance that "It has been ruled that the Prime Minister cannot be interrogated as to the advice that he may have given to the sovereign with regard to the grant of honours". John Major told the Commons Public Administration Committee in May 2004 that he had been lobbied by 'influential figures' in the Conservative Party to make the recommendation, against his personal preference. Mrs Thatcher was granted the Order of Merit at the same time and was made a life peer after she stood down as an MP in 1992.
Mark Thatcher, their son, succeeded to the title in 2003. Following Sir Mark's conviction for his part in the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt there was pressure from some MPs for him to be stripped of the title.
Thatcher baronets, of Scotney (1990)
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Michael Thatcher (born 1989).
At present, there are no others in the line of succession.