The Right Honourable facts for kids

This drawing of George Cornewall Lewis shows him with the title The Right Honourable. He held this title because he was a Home Secretary, a very important job in the government.

The Right Honourable (sometimes written as The Rt Hon.) is a special title given to important people. It shows they hold a high position or honor. This title is mainly used in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries that are part of the Commonwealth. In the United Kingdom today, members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom are given this title. These are usually current or past members of Parliament who have served as cabinet ministers in the government.

Countries Using This Title

United Kingdom

Who Gets the Title in the UK?

Queen Victoria meeting with her Privy Council. Most members of the Privy Council are called Right Honourable.

This is Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in his special robes. People with the titles of baron, viscount, or earl are also called Right Honourable.

Gavyn Farr Arthur was the Lord Mayor of London. While he held this important job, he was called "The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London."

The British government says that the following people can use the title Right Honourable:

• Members of the Privy Council: This group advises the King or Queen. Important politicians and officials are made members for life. Once they are members, they can use the title Right Honourable.
• Certain Noble Titles: People who hold the titles of Earl or Countess, Viscount or Viscountess, and Baron or Baroness are also called Right Honourable. Their wives or widows can also use this title.
• Lord Mayors and Lord Provosts: The Lord Mayors of London, Cardiff, Belfast, Bristol, and York, and the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow, use this title while they are in office. This title belongs to their job, not to their personal name.

Privy Council Members

The King or Queen appoints Privy Council members based on the Prime Minister's advice. They stay members for life. Many important people become Privy Council members, including:

• All members of the Cabinet (the main group of government ministers).
• Senior members of the main opposition party.
• The leaders of the biggest political parties in Parliament.
• The Speaker of the House of Commons (who leads debates).
• The First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Senior judges.
• Important members of the royal family.

Because of this, many current and former important politicians in the UK are called Right Honourable.

How Members of Parliament Speak to Each Other

In the House of Commons, members use special titles like honourable or right honourable when they talk about each other.

In the House of Commons, members cannot speak directly to each other or use their names. Instead, they must speak to the Speaker and refer to other members indirectly. This helps keep discussions polite.

• Members usually call each other "my honourable friend" if they are from the same political party.
• If they are from different parties, they say "the honourable gentleman/lady/member."
• If a member is also a Privy Counsellor (and so is Right Honourable), they are called "the right honourable member."
• Sometimes, extra words are used for certain jobs:
  • "(Right) honourable and reverend" for clergy (religious leaders).
  • "(Right) honourable and gallant" for military officers.
  • "(Right) honourable and learned" for barristers (lawyers).

Groups Using the Title

The title Right Honourable is also used for some important groups, such as:

• "The Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled" (this means the House of Lords).
• "The Right Honourable the Lords of the Privy Council" (this means the Privy Council).

Canada

In Canada, only three very important public officials are called Right Honourable (or Le/La très honorable in French). These are:

• The Governor General of Canada (the King's representative).
• The Prime Minister of Canada (the head of government).
• The Chief Justice of Canada (the head of the highest court).

Once someone holds one of these jobs, they keep the title Right Honourable for life. Sometimes, the Governor General can also give this title for life to other very important Canadians, even if they haven't held these specific jobs.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Prime Minister, Governor-General, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House of Representatives are now given the title Right Honourable for life. This change happened in 2010. Before that, New Zealanders received the title by being appointed to the UK's Privy Council.

Other Countries Using the Title

• East Africa: The prime ministers of Namibia and Uganda are currently styled Right Honourable. The speaker and deputy speaker of the Parliament of Uganda also use this title.
• Caribbean: The prime ministers of Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago are called Right Honourable.
• Malaysia: In Malaysia, the Prime Minister, his or her deputy, and some high court judges are styled Right Honourable. At the state level, chief ministers and premiers also use this title.
• Nepal: In Nepal, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Chief Justice are formally called Right Honourable.
• South Korea: In South Korea, the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Chief Justice can use the Right Honourable style.

Historic Usage in Other Countries

Australia

In Australia, the Lord Mayors of Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney are called Right Honourable while they are in office. In the past, some Australians also received this title by becoming members of the UK's Privy Council. However, Australian governments no longer recommend people for this title.

Ireland

Members of the Privy Council of Ireland used to be called Right Honourable. Even after this council stopped working in 1922, the Lord Mayor of Dublin kept the title until 2001.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka (which was once called Ceylon), the British way of using the title was followed. Ceylonese members of the UK's Privy Council were called Right Honourable.

See also

In Spanish: Muy Honorable para niños