DSOTM: "Sadly monman it seems Monkton has a genuine title ... sourced from his father and grandfather... he's the 3rd Lord Monkton - a hereditary peer.
I do not dispute that as a viscount he can be addressed as "lord", but Monckton is: Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley. Thus as a viscount he can be addressed by the honorific of "lord".
However, Monckton inherited his peerage after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, which provided that "no-one shall be a member of the House of Lords by virtue of a hereditary peerage." Despite Moncktons protestations that he is a member of the Lords (which they flatly deny) he has attempted 4 times to be elected to the House, and has never received a single vote. Why try to join if you are a member?
Leaving that nonsense aside, Monckton has no scientific credentials/training, but is an experienced media operator having been a reporter, editor, political media/PR expert, added to which he is a seasoned/expert public (gravy train) speaker, to a point, as his views arew not exactly popular in some quarters, because in Dec 2012 at the COP18 Climate Change Conference at Doha he was kicked out, and has been given a lifetime ban from attending UN climate talks.
As a role model and speaker for the skeptics, Monckton is perfect.
