Hugo Swire MP

I have learned, slightly belatedly, this morning that the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Hugo Swire, has been appointed a Privy Counsellor; and henceforth is to be known as the Right Honourable Hugo Swire MP.

Her Majesty's Ministers who are Privy Counsellors; that is to say all Cabinet Ministers and a number of junior-ranking Ministers.

Membership of the Privy Council brings with it the right to be called "Right Honourable".

The Privy Council still meets regularly, on average once a month, but, as with the Cabinet, most of its business is transacted in discussion and correspondence between its Ministerial members and the Government Departments that advise them.