The Honours System

SwingsitlikeHogan

SwingsitlikeHogan

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And so it comes to pass that a devious, conniving, cynical and divisive political adviser is set to become a knight of the realm. Unbelievable if it wasn't Cameron and the Tories who have dreamed up such a cracking wheeze. If ever a good reason was required to make it obvious why the whole unedifying spectacle that the honours system has become needs complete reforming then Cameron in his utter arrogance has just provided it.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
And so it comes to pass that a devious, conniving, cynical and divisive political adviser is set to become a knight of the realm. Unbelievable if it wasn't Cameron and the Tories who have dreamed up such a cracking wheeze. If ever a good reason was required to make it obvious why the whole unedifying spectacle that the honours system has become needs complete reforming then Cameron in his utter arrogance has just provided it.
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Perhaps you'll remember the "Lavender List" drawn up by Harold Wilson when he left office. Numerous Labour grandee's and supporters were given honours and served in the House of Lords. More recently Livermore, who ran Ed Miliband's campaign, was also given a peerage.

Sorry, but if you think this is a Tory failing you need to remove your red blinkers. They're all as bad as each other.
 
I noticed the other day that thon lying, cheating, bombastic, Austrailian head of the Tory election spin machine was awarded a knighthood.
We are all going to hell in a handcart.
 
Hobbit said:
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Sorry, but if you think this is a Tory failing you need to remove your red blinkers. They're all as bad as each other.
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This!

When not simply used to stuff the House of Lords full of their own supporters, it's used as a 'thank you' to those who have provided particularly useful service - so always likely to be rather corrupt!

However, the many non-political awards, like McCoy's, are hugely deserved!
 
Jesus wept. Tories... Labour.... they are both as bad as each other. If you don't think that the system works, stand for office. Make your opinion know to the big bad world and change the wrong doings from within. If you can't be bothered then just please stop whinging about it on a golf forum. It's just pitiful.
 
Honours, whether they be Birthday or New Year's are an anachronistic throwback to more servile, grovelling, forelock-tugging and pathetic times.

Their awarding is more to do with recipients being in the know, or having friends in high places, rather than them being handed the so-called gongs for having achieved anything truly worthwhile other than simply doing their job.

Certainly I would ban them being handed out willy-nilly to the likes of sportspeople, musicians and luvvies. If they have to exist, a premise I disagree with vehemently, then only those 'ordinary people' who work tirelessly in the community for the benefit of others should be considered as potentially worthy recipients.

I am proud to say that when HID's dad was tapped up for one some 30 years ago he politely refused it. As indeed would I in the highly unlikely event of ever being offered one in the first place.
 
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JohnnyDee said:
Honours, whether they be Birthday or New Year's are an anachronistic throwback to more servile, grovelling, forelock-tugging and pathetic times.

Their awarding is more to do with recipients being in the know, or having friends in high places, rather than them being handed the so-called gongs for having achieved anything truly worthwhile other than simply doing their job.

Certainly I would ban them being handed out willy-nilly to the likes of sportspeople, musicians and luvvies. If they have to exist, a premise I disagree with vehemently, then only those 'ordinary people' who work tirelessly in the community for the benefit of others should be considered as the only recipients.

I am proud to say that when HID's dad was tapped up for one some 30 years ago he politely refused it. As indeed would I in the highly unlikely event of ever being offered one in the first place.
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Spot on Johnny! :thup:
 
JohnnyDee said:
Honours, whether they be Birthday or New Year's are an anachronistic throwback to more servile, grovelling, forelock-tugging and pathetic times.

Their awarding is more to do with recipients being in the know, or having friends in high places, rather than them being handed the so-called gongs for having achieved anything truly worthwhile other than simply doing their job.

Certainly I would ban them being handed out willy-nilly to the likes of sportspeople, musicians and luvvies. If they have to exist, a premise I disagree with vehemently, then only those 'ordinary people' who work tirelessly in the community for the benefit of others should be considered as potentially worthy recipients.

I am proud to say that when HID's dad was tapped up for one some 30 years ago he politely refused it. As indeed would I in the highly unlikely event of ever being offered one in the first place.
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What would your Dad gave got?
 
Not my Dad but my wife's Dad. He worked a lifetime at his very ordinary job - during which time he introduced many improved practices and far-reaching innovations.

I think, although I'm not entirely sure, that it was an OBE or possibly an MBE.
 
For an outsider it is a weird system. It's celebrities lifetime achievements, spiked with successful Olympians every 4 years, and civil servants who basically did their job 9-5 for a number of years.

Every now an then you get someone outstanding in there who went beyond what is actually expected of them, but they are swallowed up in the masses and drowned out by famous people.

Did I get that right?
 
larmen said:
For an outsider it is a weird system. It's celebrities lifetime achievements, spiked with successful Olympians every 4 years, and civil servants who basically did their job 9-5 for a number of years.

Every now an then you get someone outstanding in there who went beyond what is actually expected of them, but they are swallowed up in the masses and drowned out by famous people.
:thup:
Did I get that right?
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Indeed you're pretty close for me
 
There was a guy in the Mansfield area called "splash". He dressed up as a clown most days and hung around the market place. He raised tens of thousands of pounds. Probably hundreds of thousands. Anyway he was nominated for an award and told them to stuff it, he had said for years that the driving force behind him was his wife. She had passed away and would not be there to see him receive the award.
 
I'd take the award, and shamelessly use it to get more money for charities. I know how our MD responds to begging letters from those that are titled. The amount of times I've sat on our awards meetings and the conversation starts with "we've received a letter on House of Lords paper from Sir Whatsit." Works pretty much every time.

sorry to disappoint but I'd grab it with both hands and use it for the greater good.
 
Not getting into the rights and wrongs, I personally attend 6-8 Investiture Ceremonies a year, each ceremony has on average 100 recipients (Military and Civilian mixed) and have seen every medal presented from Victoria Cross to MBE, Knighthood to Polar Medal.
For all the cynicism of celebrities and mates, there are hundreds upon hundreds of "normal" people being recognised for some incredible and humbling achievements.
 
JohnnyDee said:
Honours, whether they be Birthday or New Year's are an anachronistic throwback to more servile, grovelling, forelock-tugging and pathetic times.

Their awarding is more to do with recipients being in the know, or having friends in high places, rather than them being handed the so-called gongs for having achieved anything truly worthwhile other than simply doing their job.

Certainly I would ban them being handed out willy-nilly to the likes of sportspeople, musicians and luvvies. If they have to exist, a premise I disagree with vehemently, then only those 'ordinary people' who work tirelessly in the community for the benefit of others should be considered as potentially worthy recipients.

I am proud to say that when HID's dad was tapped up for one some 30 years ago he politely refused it. As indeed would I in the highly unlikely event of ever being offered one in the first place.
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100% behind this. They have no place in a modern world. Banning all titles and honours, past, present and future, would be one of my first decrees given 24 hours in power. Lord Archer, Sir Mark Thatcher really. Game over
 
Lord Tyrion said:
100% behind this. They have no place in a modern world. Banning all titles and honours, past, present and future, would be one of my first decrees given 24 hours in power. Lord Archer, Sir Mark Thatcher really. Game over
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.............. and you a Lord and all that!
 
JohnnyDee said:
I am proud to say that when HID's dad was tapped up for one some 30 years ago he politely refused it. As indeed would I in the highly unlikely event of ever being offered one in the first place.
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Oh I dont know..Lord JohnnyDee has a certain ring to it...:clap:
 
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