Until 2008 women could be associate, but not full, members of the Carlton Club. That state of affairs led some prominent Tories including Mrs May to refuse the honorary membership offered to a number of people holding senior positions in the party. Now that women are eligible to become full members, Mrs May accepted honorary membership in September. On September 23 The Times diary TMS carried a light-hearted piece about what happened when Mrs Thatcher became party leader, prompting a response from Alistair Lexden.
Sir, If only life at the Carlton Club was really as bizarre as TMS (Sept. 23) paints it. Alas, Mrs Thatcher did not become an honorary man when in 1975 she was took up the traditional free membership given to Conservative Party leaders. The Club discovered to its delight that honorary membership could be given to man, woman or child without restriction. Mrs T snapped it up because it provided her with posh premises where potential donors and others could be entertained at the Party’s expense. The Club cosseted her, presenting her with a huge cake on St Valentine’s Day in 1983. Mrs May could have been an honorary member too as Party Chairman in 2002 if she had shared Mrs T’s breezy acceptance that full, paid membership should be confined to men.
Lord Lexden
Co-author, The Carlton Club 1832-2007
House of Lords