Chiltern Hundreds

American  

[chil-tern] / ˈtʃɪl tərn /

plural noun

British.

1. certain crown lands, the stewardship of which is nominally bestowed on a member of the House of Commons to provide an excuse to resign, as members are not allowed to hold titular office from the crown.

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idioms

1. to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds, to resign or express a desire to resign from the House of Commons.

Chiltern Hundreds British  

plural noun

1. (in Britain) short for Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds ; a nominal office that an MP applies for in order to resign his seat

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Example Sentences

MPs are not technically allowed to resign and instead have to be appointed either Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, or of the Manor of Northstead, as Mr Benton has been, on an alternating basis.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2024

I shall today inform the chancellor of my intention to take the Chiltern Hundreds, enabling the writ to be moved on 4 September for the by-election you are so desperately seeking to take place.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2023

You 'll see by the papers that I have accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.

From The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II) by Lever, Charles James

It is just possible that, under the circumstances, he may decide to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds very shortly, and we must be prepared for every emergency.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, May 23, 1891 by Various

Many a thriving county member in those days expressed a wish among his friends that he had never meddled with the affairs of public life, and hinted at the Chiltern Hundreds.

From Phineas Redux by Trollope, Anthony