Arthur Gore, 8th Earl of Arran

Who was Arthur Gore, 8th Earl of Arran?

Arthur Gore, 8th Earl of Arran was a Conservative whip in the House of Lords. He was affectionately known as “Boofy”. In 1958 he succeeded his brother to become the 8th Earl of Arran and became an active member of the House of Lords. A passionate advocate of homosexual rights, he thrice introduced a Sexual Offences Bill, and also campaigned for the protection of badgers. His father was Arthur Gore, 6th Earl of Arran. He was the father of Arthur Gore, 9th Earl of Arran.

He married Fiona Colquhoun, daughter of Sir Ian Colquhoun. She was a speedboat racer and, like her husband, an animal rights activist. The couple had homes in Hertfordshire and Scotland.

Arran was the sponsor in the House of Lords of Leo Abse's 1967 private member's bill which decriminalised homosexual acts between two consenting adult males. He also sponsored a bill for the protection of badgers. He was once asked why the badger bill had not received enough support to pass whereas decriminalising homosexual acts had. "Not many badgers in the House of Lords," he replied.