Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn branded The Duke of Westminster a “dodgy landlord” in a scathing attack on Britain’s elite today. He hit out at 28-year-old aristocrat Hugh Grovesnor as well as UK Businessman Mike Ashley and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch in a speech which claimed “tax dodgers, bad bosses, big polluters, and billionaire-owned media holding our country back.”

Who is the Duke of Westminster?

Hugh Grovesnor is the 7th Duke of Westminster and at just 28 he is the youngest billionaire in Britain.

He inherited his noble title and fortune from his father, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster who died in November 2016.

The Grovesnor family is estimated to be worth £10.1 billion and Hugh, known as “Hughie”, has unsurprisingly been dubbed one of the most eligible bachelors on earth.

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His family owns large swathes of London and has been building in the capital since the 1700s.

The Duke of Westminster also owns the Grovesnor Group which manages, invests in and builds property across the globe.

The Duke’s property portfolio spans 60 different countries and includes 300 acres of Mayfair and Belgravia in central London.

Is the Duke of Westminster related to the royal family?

The current Duke of Westminster is close pals with Prince Harry and Prince William and is even godfather to Will’s eldest child Prince George, six.

While Hughie has close ties to the royals and runs in the same social circle, they are not related by blood.

The Duke of Westminster title belongs to Britain’s peerage system and was created by Queen Victoria in 1874.

She bestowed the title upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster and it has remained in the family to this day.

The Duke of Westminster title is the most recent dukedom to have been given to someone not related to the British Royal Family.

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What did Jeremy Corbyn say about The Duke of Westminster?

During his speech at Battersea Arts Centre, Mr Corbyn lashed out at big earners in Britain, he said: “This election is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country, take on the vested interests holding people back and ensure that no community is left behind.

“So, we’re going after the tax dodgers. We’re going after the dodgy landlords. We’re going after the bad bosses.

“We’re going after the big polluters. Because we know whose side we’re on.

“Whose side are you on? The dodgy landlords, like the Duke of Westminster, Britain’s youngest billionaire, who tried to evict whole blocks of families to make way for luxury apartments?

“Or the millions of tenants in Britain who struggle to pay their rent each month?”

The Duke of Westminster’s royal links

While Hugh ‘Hughie’ Grovesnor is not related to the royal family he runs they have a strong connection.

He attended the wedding of society couple Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last year.

 Prince William and Prince Harry also attended the wedding of The Duke’s sister Lady Tamara Grovesnor in 2004.

The Queen and Prince Philip were also guests at Lady Tamara’s big day.

Hugh was an important guest at Prince George’s christening as he was chosen by William to be a godparent.

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