Palace knights Tony Blair

[Serial_Apologist]

The first upset of the New Year for me was hearing this first thing this morning on the news. How many would want to hope that someone with influence within The Firm must have arm-twisted Her Maj for this one to have gone through? Or is it the customary thing to give this award automatically to ex-PMs?

[Joseph K]

It's quite apt, what with Blair's imperialist proclivities.

[RichardB]

If Henry Kissinger can have a Nobel Peace Prize I guess Blair can have a knighthood. These are the kinds of accolades war criminals get when they're on the winning side.

[LHC]

It’s not just any knighthood. He’s been appointed to the Order of the Garter, which is the highest order of all chivalric appointments. There are a maximum of 24 members at any one time, and appointees are chosen personally by the Sovereign.

However, it is correct to say that it is an Honour normally bestowed on former PMs (John Major is also one). Apparently there was some speculation in 2007 that he had informed the Palace that he didn’t want the Honours normally given to PMs, which might explain the delay in knighting him. It might have been better to have done it when he left politics, as nothing he has done since then would suggest he deserves this elevation. Indeed, I imagine the only person in the Country to welcome this news apart from Blair, will be Lord Adonis, who as well as campaigning for us to rejoin the EU, also wants Blair to return as leader of the Labour Party.

At least he has been joined in the Order by Baroness Amos, the first black person to be appointed to the Order.

[Barbirollians]

It’s not just any knighthood. He’s been appointed to the Order of the Garter, which is the highest order of all chivalric appointments. There are a maximum of 24 members at any one time, and appointees are chosen personally by the Sovereign.

However, it is correct to say that it is an Honour normally bestowed on former PMs (John Major is also one). Apparently there was some speculation in 2007 that he had informed the Palace that he didn’t want the Honours normally given to PMs, which might explain the delay in knighting him. It might have been better to have done it when he left politics, as nothing he has done since then would suggest he deserves this elevation. Indeed, I imagine the only person in the Country to welcome this news apart from Blair, will be Lord Adonis, who as well as campaigning for us to rejoin the EU, also wants Blair to return as leader of the Labour Party.

At least he has been joined in the Order by Baroness Amos, the first black person to be appointed to the Order.

Who knows perhaps it is delayed recognition for the benefit of his advice when the Royal Family’s original reaction to the death of Diana did so much damage to their reputation. Shame he couldn’t persuade them not to force those two kids to follow their mother’s coffin - which was pretty much tantamount to emotional abuse.

[Serial_Apologist]

Who knows perhaps it is delayed recognition for the benefit of his advice when the Royal Family’s original reaction to the death of Diana did so much damage to their reputation. Shame he couldn’t persuade them not to force those two kids to follow their mother’s coffin - which was pretty much tantamount to emotional abuse.

I've been thinking much the same.

[french frank]

Who knows perhaps it is delayed recognition for the benefit of his advice when the Royal Family’s original reaction to the death of Diana did so much damage to their reputation. Shame he couldn’t persuade them not to force those two kids to follow their mother’s coffin - which was pretty much tantamount to emotional abuse.

As far as I'm concerned you either:

1. Think these things matter. Full stop.

2. Think they're all right if they're given to the people we approve of but not to the people we don't.

3. Wish they'd junk the whole business (for a number of pretty solid reasons that I can think of).

Personally, I'd hate to be offered an MBE or a Dame. But if it was an MBE, I'd feel I ought to accept it to show I wasn't just miffed at being offered nothing higher

[Serial_Apologist]

As far as I'm concerned you either:

1. Think these things matter. Full stop.

2. Think they're all right if they're given to the people we approve of but not to the people we don't.

3. Wish they'd junk the whole business (for a number of pretty solid reasons that I can think of).

Personally, I'd hate to be offered an MBE or a Dame. But if it was an MBE, I'd feel I ought to accept it to show I wasn't just miffed at being offered nothing higher

I tend to find myself in sympathy with those whose contributions have enriched life in general or at least helped mitigate its worst aspects. In defense they often say that the award draws attention to an entire field of endeavour. In relation to which Blair's example can only be seen largely in negative, self-serving terms.

[french frank]

I tend to find myself in sympathy with those whose contributions have enriched life in general or at least helped mitigate its worst aspects. In defense they often say that the award draws attention to an entire field of endeavour. In relation to which Blair's example can only be seen largely in negative, self-serving terms.

I don't disagree at all. And I look with a jaded eye at the newest KG. It's in line with a system that we have and which I don't like. At all. I'm not surprised by it, but I'm also not going to waste my time over it. As you may have gathered I hold to a middle course on most things and have issues with both sides, meaning I need a tin hat which covers my entire head.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wonder just how the hours system can be justified. I suppose this TB's case, he was Prime Minister for an extended period.

But how can one just justify, say, Iain Duncan Smith, who's never really succeeded at anything? I notice that Robert Goodwill, our Scarborough MP is being knighted. I really can't think why. He doesn't seem special at all.

[Bryn]

I wonder just how the hours system can be justified. I suppose this TB's case, he was Prime Minister for an extended period.

But how can one just justify, say, Iain Duncan Smith, who's never really succeeded at anything? I notice that Robert Goodwill, our Scarborough MP is being knighted. I really can't think why. He doesn't seem special at all.

Their hour has clearly come.

[french frank]

I wonder just how the hours system can be justified. I suppose this TB's case, he was Prime Minister for an extended period.

But how can one just justify, say, Iain Duncan Smith, who's never really succeeded at anything? I notice that Robert Goodwill, our Scarborough MP is being knighted. I really can't think why. He doesn't seem special at all.

This is the system. It honours 'one of us' for long service, and in the case of knighthoods (and peerages) signals to others what you can expect from them. (That said, one of my friends is in the House of Lords, but she is a worlking peer, works very hard and would be just as likely to be a member of any 'revising chamber' if the House of Lords were abolished.)

Honouring people randomly because someone has nominated them seems to be a (or rather one of the) … weakness(es) in the system

[Jonathan]

I have zero interest in politics but I have noticed that there is an online petition to have Tony Blair stripped of his award, which I thought was quite amusing.

[Barbirollians]

I have zero interest in politics but I have noticed that there is an online petition to have Tony Blair stripped of his award, which I thought was quite amusing.

Yes - as his award was in the personal gift of The Queen rather than through the usual honours system I can just see her revoking it due to a few thousand Corbynistas and other far leftists signing a petition.

[Joseph K]

Speaking as a far-leftist & Corbynista, I wouldn't sign the petition, since as I implied in my previous post on this thread, it's not as though getting knighted means anything or is some valid form of recognition.