Has anyone had so little time to enjoy an honour as Martin Amis?

Shortest knight

Martin Amis was knighted the day before he died last month. Has anyone else had so little time to enjoy an honour? Wilfred Stamp, 2nd Baron Stamp, officially holds the record as the shortest-serving peer. He died with his father, Josiah, the 1st Baron Stamp, when their home in Beckenham, Kent was bombed in April 1941. Because no one could be sure in which order father and son had died the law decreed that Wilfred has survived a split second longer than his father. It meant that he would forever be remembered as Lord Stamp – but forced his family to pay death duty twice.

By the by

Has this parliament had an unusual number of by-elections?

– Since 2019: 16, including those to come (4 due to death, 12 resignation)

– 2017-19: 5 (1 death, 4 resignation)

– 2015-17: 10 (3 death, 7 resignation)

– 2010-15: 21 (6 death, 14 resignation, 1 void election)

– 2005-10: 14 (8 death, 6 resignation)

– 2001-05: 6 (4 death, 2 resignation)

– 1997-2001: 17 (10 death, 6 resignation, 1 void election)

– 1992-97: 18 (16 death, 2 resignation)

– 1987-92: 24 (20 death, 4 resignation)

– 1983-87: 31 (11 death, 20 resignation)

– 1979-83: 20 (15 death, 5 resignation)

Picture of health

What are the healthiest, and least healthy, districts of England? Score on government’s Health Index (100 is average):

Healthiest

Harrogate 124.