New Years honours list

[Neron]

Tony Blair. Honestly?
What are peoples thoughts

Shocked that Tony Blair gets a mention.

Pleased with some of the others - Van Tam - legend!

Tony Blair getting one doesn’t affect my thoughts about the honour system. I had very little respect for it to begin with. It’s corrupt. Sure you could point to some descent people but that’s to cover for cronies who get them.

its the why that gets me! why Blair! why now! 20 years ago I would have understood and still hated it but why now? what does the queen owe him now? what was she thinking?

He was prime minister for a long time, regardless of your or my opinion on him it was probably inevitable.

@Lockheart I guess so. perhaps they were waiting till they hoped we had all forgotten

All former PMs eventually get knighted. A lot undeserving people do, to be honest.

@Lockheart

He was prime minister for a long time, regardless of your or my opinion on him it was probably inevitable.

That's what I was thinking.

I think the Queen took the fall so none of heirs would have to do the dirty deed in the future.

I’m more annoyed with all the sportspeople tbh.

Not that any of it means anything these days.

I personally think they should scrap it. What is the actual point. Chris Whitty and Van Tam? Eh why? They were doing a job and no doubt are very well remunerated for it. If anyone should get it out of all of this, it’s front line staff who have worked their socks off at the coal front.
Actresses etc. Again why? They have gone in to it all for personal gain. Nothing else.
That young girl who won a tennis tournament! One tournament! Come on, what is that about?!

@PinkiOcelot maybe we are running out of people who have done worthy stuff aside from the frontliners of course. wouldn't surprise me if they were thinking about knighting Matt Hancock too!

I am glad this thread was started - I feel the same way.
Blair in the same breath as Whitty & Van Tam? In fact, I think Blair has a higher honour, not suggesting that Whitty & Van Tam should be getting that.
Whilst I applaud the achievements of Jason & Laura Kenny - again, can they be equated to some of the other knighthoods?

@noworklifebalance

I am glad this thread was started - I feel the same way. Blair in the same breath as Whitty & Van Tam? In fact, I think Blair has a higher honour, not suggesting that Whitty & Van Tam should be getting that. Whilst I applaud the achievements of Jason & Laura Kenny - again, can they be equated to some of the other knighthoods?

Jason is the most decorated British Olympian of all time and Laura is the most decorated female British Olympian off all time, compared to other Olympians who have been knighted then they are surely more deserving.

I do think Whitty & Van Tam deserve it. As do those who received it for their roles in human rights, for example, even if they were lawyers just doing their jobs, albeit exceptionally in the field and head and shoulder above their contemporaries.

Or perhaps scrap anyone who does their job exceptionally well and only give it those who contribute to society through voluntary work.
It would certainly stop awards for those who happened to be blessed with talent/ athleticism.
Definitely agree that the award for Emma Radacanu is OTT.

Christ, in 20 years it will be
SIR BAWBAG BORIS JOHNSON
😂😂😂

Completely agree get rid of the whole thing.

Jason is the most decorated British Olympian of all time and Laura is the most decorated female British Olympian off all time, compared to other Olympians who have been knighted then they are surely more deserving.

I don’t dispute that they are the most decorated but it doesn’t necessarily mean they should get a knighthood. Likewise Andy Murray.
I really think they ought to put a lot back into the sport in terms of youth development, reaching grass roots level etc rather than personal achievement to get knighthood. Perhaps an MBE/OBE or similar would be better honour for personal success.
Anyway, not my decision to make

Just to add, maybe they have put a lot back into the sport and I am just not aware

Wish it was ditched. Awarding people for doing their jobs.

@sst1234

All former PMs eventually get knighted. A lot undeserving people do, to be honest.

The only post war Prime Minister before Blair who has not been made a Member of the Order of the Garter is Harold Macmillan. The Order of the Garter unlike other honours is entirely a decision made by the Queen.

More newsworthy probably is Baroness Amos being made a member of the Order of the Garter.

I must admit I have a somewhat jaundiced view of the honours system. It seems to be very heavily biased in favour of civil servants. Some years ago DH was part of a team who tried to nominate their boss for an honour. The nomination form was very long and complicated, and contained lots of questions which were only relevant if the nominee was a member of the civil service. For anyone else, the bar was set much higher.

After what felt like hours of coverage of the honours list on BBC Breakfast this morning, I found myself wondering: Are we supposed to give a toss about this?

@sst1234

All former PMs eventually get knighted. A lot undeserving people do, to be honest.

No that’s not true they don’t all get knighted eventually

I'm more annoyed the harbinger of doom Chris Witry got one

Leaving aside the sports/politics question, I'm delighted for Martin Lewis getting a CBE. I consider his achievements and campaigning to be equally as important as the sporting success of Jason and Laura Kenny, so why isn't he being knighted when they are?

The Queen has nothing to do with the main honours; it's all done by civil servants with the government agreeing it. The only thing she has any say over is the Order of the Garter.

Leaving aside the sports/politics question, I'm delighted for Martin Lewis getting a CBE. I consider his achievements and campaigning to be equally as important as the sporting success of Jason and Laura Kenny, so why isn't he being knighted when they are?

I consider his achievements to be more worthwhile

The whole thing is a farce. Just because you happen to be born with a talent for sport or acting why should that mean you receive an "honour".

Also, so many people get them because of cronyism. Why should someone in the Civil Service get one unless they have done something outstanding?

I think for more and more people this type of award is becoming meaningless. Mind you at least they didn't give David Beckham one (yet!)