Geoff Coupe's Blog

Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…

Knighthoods – On A Slippery Slope?

I see that Tony Blair has got a Knighthood bestowed on him in the New Year’s Honour’s List. Some are questioning this, given his actions in taking the UK into the Iraq war in 2003. It’s a fair point.

I note that the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has defended the appointment by saying:

“Whatever people might think, it is one of the toughest jobs in the world,” the Speaker said, “and I think it is respectful and it is the right thing to do, whether it is Sir David Cameron. They should all be offered that knighthood when they finish as prime minister.”

Really? Irrespective of how good or bad they were in office? Can we now look forward to seeing the ennobled Sir Boris in a few years time? My irony meter has just exploded.

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One response to “Knighthoods – On A Slippery Slope?”

  1. Laraine Avatar
    Laraine

    I’ve long questioned the sort of people who get knighthoods. Some of New Zealand’s worst prime ministers got knighthoods, Key included. A few years ago I wondered why John Eliot Gardiner got one, whereas the late Christopher Hogwood didn’t. From where I was sitting they both did “services to music” that furthered their careers, unlike Yehudi Menuhin. I did find out the reason: Eliot Gardiner is a friend of the Prince of Wales, with whom they share an interest in organic gardening and farming. He has even admitted online that when Prince Charles placed the sword on his shoulder the Prince whispered, “Thanks for the heifers.” Ouch! I’m sure it was all a legitimate business transaction, but couldn’t Eliot Gardiner see what it sounded like?

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