If the honours system is to be “a kind of league table of national values as you suggest (A dishonoured system in dire need of an overhaul,31 December) then radical reform is clearly required. Honours should not advance with the rations, or be capable of being bought, and but should be reserved for exceptional service for the public edifying. There are names on the recent list which clearly fail this test and so bring the whole system into disrepute. The Commons public administration committee has proposed fundamental reform,notably through an independent honours commission with clear criteria for the award of honours based upon the values we want to recognise as a society. Such reform is long overdue.
Tony Wright[br]Former Labour MP and ex-chair of the public administration select committee Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com