Should There Be A Complete Rethink Over The Whole Of This 'honours' Nonsense?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3717367/DAILY-MAIL-COMMENT-Just-feared-s-Arise-Sir-Remain.html

I am sure that if he could, Cameron would have awarded himself a knighthood.

[mikey4444]

For once AOG, we are in complete agreement !

[Old_Geezer]

There should have been a rethink decades ago. I'm unsure anything recent has changed much. If it hasn't been overhauled, or scrapped, by now I doubt it will be anytime soon.

[mikey4444]

Alas, I agree with you as well here OG. Turkeys very rarely vote for Xmas.

[Bertrum]

He forgot his Bicycle mechanic and Larry

[anneasquith]

He cares not a jot, speaks volumes as to his character.

[dannyk13]

Yes, it has become an excuse for cronyism

[mikey4444]

Dave is only doing this because he can, and is no different to any other politician. Until the system is changed, then this will always go on, with Tory and Labour alike. Twas ever thus.

[Peter Pedant]

Yes

it has been so soiled -we could do without it
the lucky recipients couldnt of course

and this year .... includes downing st hairdressers, telephone sanitisers and press relations men - o and the girl who helped mrs C with her diary .....

I dont recollect that Harold Wilsons honours ( all his Lords ended up in prison for fraud ) generated so much disgust....

The civil service tended to insist that the lucky recipient must have "done something" for their gong
and this means it has been reserved to those who had crawled up the prime ministers arris....

[ludwig]

But isn't this exactly what it's for, at least in part - ie for governments to reward their cronies for support and other services rendered?

[Khandro]

'Peers claimed £360,000 in attendance fees and expenses over the past five years despite failing to take part in any House of Lords votes, new research has found.
A group of 62 peers racked up the huge bill in years they failed to vote even once, a report by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) released claims.
In the last parliamentary session alone, more than £100,000 was claimed by peers who did not vote at all, the report said.
The ERS warned the House of Lords was 'growing out of control' and 'shockingly out of date and unrepresentative'.
Peers do not have a salary but they can claim £300 for each sitting day they attend the House, as well as limited travel expenses.'

[andy-hughes]

I can't see a problem.

Every prime minister has to do a vast amount of wheedling, crawling, toadying, licking, forelock tugging, and so on and so forth. This is done on the basis of a 'reward' when the PM strolls off to make eight figures in the private sector.

The 'reward' is a place on the 'Honours List' - when all those 'favours' are rewarded by the outgoing PM, his last chance to stick it to everyone who hated him, and pony up to everyone he owes favours to.

It's revealed when he has gone, so they can't touch him for it - he can make the rewards as outrageous as he wants, which is part of the appeal.

So - on that basis - the entire system works perfectly!

Problem?

[vetuste_ennemi]

One of my customers (when I was a window cleaner in Surrey) was a Labour peer. I think there was some sort of House of Lords badge on his Austin Cambridge. Lord Crook of Carshalton, as I recall.

[ToraToraTora]

yes, well done AOG, you have found a subject we all agree on!

[mikey4444]

Yes....a well done from me as well !

[anotheoldgit]

Yes but it's getting rather boring already.:0)

[mikey4444]

lol AOG !

[bazwillrun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36938368

"Theresa May will not intervene over her predecessor David Cameron's resignation honours list because it would "set a very bad precedent", No 10 has said."

errr, no, quite the opposite.....a friggin "stylist" gets a gong...for doing her job....laughable by any standard

[Marshwarble]

I disagree. Give Remainers knighthoods, degrees, land, anything they like. Inclusivity should be rewarded!

[Hopkirk]

What did Sir Philip Green do to merit his?

[andy-hughes]

bazwillrun - //"Theresa May will not intervene over her predecessor David Cameron's resignation honours list because it would "set a very bad precedent", No 10 has said."

errr, no, quite the opposite.....a friggin "stylist" gets a gong...for doing her job....laughable by any standard //

Of course she isn't going to intervene - it would make her look nasty, small-minded and mean to other politicians, and the Tory faithful, and it would open the gates to her successor doing the same when she does exactly the same thing when she leaves - and she will!

The answer is not to raise the profile of the recipients, it is to degrade the importance of the honour.

I remember going to Keele University Students' Union discos on weekends, and on visitng the toilets, I was amused to see written above the toilet roll dispenser - 'Keele Arts Degrees - please take one'.

You can do wonders by making an 'honour' so common and pointless than no-one actually wants to receive one!

Then the 'proper' honours, given by people like The Queen, will have enhanced meaning, and everyone will be hoping not to he 'honoured' by an outgoing PM because it is the kiss of death to their reputation and social standing.