New Year Honours Dec 2020

[Psamathe]

In a year when so many health workers, volunteers, keyworkers, etc. have taken such risks to help those suffering I see

Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox QC has received a knighthood for “parliamentary and political service” in the new year honours.

The gong comes despite the Tory MP’s prominent role in last year’s controversial shutdown of parliament ...

Deserving of recognition (other than in court)?

Ian

[thirdcrank]

Tucked away in there is the title QC - Queen's Counsel. That's mainly means TLF or top learned friend. However, the honorific (?) is awarded to others eg the ministerial posts of attorney general and solicitor general, come with an honorary QC ship, if I may coin the expression. I don't know if Geoffrey Cox was a QC before he became attorney general and I don't care, but there are quite a few politicians about who are happy to flaunt the QC bit who are not eminent lawyers in the way many people assume.

Also, a fair few republican-leaning lawyers eg who don't like things like the Crown Prosecution Service but never seem to mind being classed as a QC.

[Psamathe]

BRAVE TORY DONORS REWARDED IN NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST
Dozens of wealthy people who risked losing thousands of pounds in bankrolling the Tory general election campaign have received their well deserved awards in the New Year’s honours list. Brave donors who willingly gave up to £50,000, some of it their own, in order to help other wealthy people are at last being recognised.

‘We thought about giving awards to emergency service personnel who attend the Grenfell fire thingy or helped comfort people during the terrorist attacks in Westminster and that other place in London and … that other place,’ said a government spokesman. ‘The problem with that is if you give a gong to one, you really have to give them all one, so instead we decided to give them to people who made a significant impact on all our lives throughout the year, namely Tory donors.’
...

[Tangled Metal]

When soldiers hi overseas to risk their lives under Blair you think he honoured them or his cronies? Does it matter more that he's Tory or more that he's not a health worker?

It's a corrupted system, corrupted from the very start of it so why the outrage every time then nothing? Anyone complaining actually send a letter to their MP or perhaps PM about it? Ever?

I personally stopped caring about the honours system. It means nothing to me and if someone I know does something good I'll speak to them personally about it. I don't think of state gongs being worth even the metal they're forged from.

[Psamathe]

....
It's a corrupted system, corrupted from the very start of it so why the outrage every time then nothing? Anyone complaining actually send a letter to their MP or perhaps PM about it? Ever?....

I used to write to my MPs probably every few weeks (maybe 10'ish times a year averaged out). Can't remember the details of each issue raised but he never replies, never acts, just a safe seat and he just votes along with the (Conservative) whips/party so no thought involved - all in the complete 110% confidence that he'll be re-elected next time round.

Ian

[Tangled Metal]

....
It's a corrupted system, corrupted from the very start of it so why the outrage every time then nothing? Anyone complaining actually send a letter to their MP or perhaps PM about it? Ever?....

I used to write to my MPs probably every few weeks (maybe 10'ish times a year averaged out). Can't remember the details of each issue raised but he never replies, never acts, just a safe seat and he just votes along with the (Conservative) whips/party so no thought involved - all in the complete 110% confidence that he'll be re-elected next time round.

Ian

Have you raised the issue of the honours system?

It's highly likely it makes no difference contacting your MP in many cases but we're moving to an area with an active, constituency MP who does act for constituents, even when he ran his party!!! If you're unlucky to have a party pr*ck who does nothing then what about the relevant minister, PM or committee? I don't know but anything other than moaning about X, y or z crony getting a gong every time the party you dislike is in power and uses the system for their own benefits.

This kind of thread comes up with regular pattern that coincides with another round of honours. What a surprise?!!!! Can a moderator not just tag this one onto all the others?? Has this thread added anything other than a new name to moan about getting an honour? Anyone bothered looking up last honours system threads to check? Perhaps the op could have done that first? See if he's adding anything new, if not just add to the last thread or the first one.

Sorry if I'm cynical about these cyclical complaint threads. They're just a little pointless IMHO.

[Cyril Haearn]

Could one 'adopt' another MP, not the one for the parish where one lives?
I often lived under a tory mp who I didnae vote for

[Psamathe]

....
It's a corrupted system, corrupted from the very start of it so why the outrage every time then nothing? Anyone complaining actually send a letter to their MP or perhaps PM about it? Ever?....

I used to write to my MPs probably every few weeks (maybe 10'ish times a year averaged out). Can't remember the details of each issue raised but he never replies, never acts, just a safe seat and he just votes along with the (Conservative) whips/party so no thought involved - all in the complete 110% confidence that he'll be re-elected next time round.

Ian

Have you raised the issue of the honours system?

Can't remember. I write often enough on different issues that I can't remember specifics of all issues raised.

....
This kind of thread comes up with regular pattern that coincides with another round of honours. What a surprise?!!!! Can a moderator not just tag this one onto all the others?? Has this thread added anything other than a new name to moan about getting an honour? Anyone bothered looking up last honours system threads to check? Perhaps the op could have done that first? See if he's adding anything new, if not just add to the last thread or the first one.

Sorry if I'm cynical about these cyclical complaint threads. They're just a little pointless IMHO.

If you don't like the thread, maybe don't read it (or do all threads require your approval?).

Ian

[Bonefishblues]

Let us rejoice that David Beckham has not been further ennobled

[Psamathe]

Could one 'adopt' another MP, not the one for the parish where one lives?
I often lived under a tory mp who I didnae vote for :?

Mine (current and in other places I've lived) have always been very strict about you living within their constituency, requiring an address on any correspondence (to "prove" you live in their area).

Ian

[pete75]

Could one 'adopt' another MP, not the one for the parish where one lives?
I often lived under a tory mp who I didnae vote for

Mine (current and in other places I've lived) have always been very strict about you living within their constituency, requiring an address on any correspondence (to "prove" you live in their area).

Ian

Living in a strong Tory area I've no elected representative either at local, county or national level. All three have stated they represent the people who elected them. I didn't do that.

[PH]

I don't know if Geoffrey Cox was a QC before he became attorney general and I don't care, but there are quite a few politicians about who are happy to flaunt the QC bit who are not eminent lawyers in the way many people assume.

I don't know why you'd raise it if you don't care, but yes a highly placed QC before and after his cabinet position. The gong seems small recompense for the millions in lost income. He had and may have returned to having, the distinction of being the highest earning MP.
Of course the honours system of patronage is corrupt, how could it be otherwise? It a celebrity level of bread and circuses for some and a widening of the trough for others, and of course something to get indignant about whilst the real corruption goes on behind the scenes.

[thirdcrank]

Sorry: I thought it was obvious. I don't care about Cox individually. He was the subject of the OP and triggered my comment about government law officers more generally. I would say he's an "argument weak, increase the volume of your oration" merchant.

[reohn2]

Let us rejoice that David Beckham has not been further ennobled

Prolly too busy having another tattoo inked on or swanning around selling more smellies or suits or such like

A friend of mine got an OBE last year and has probably done more good in the world than any ten political financiers put together.

[Tangled Metal]

Look down the list a bit and there's probably more than a few worthy gongs being delivered. I think that's always the case. Headlines to suit the needs of the seller with personally a lot of worthiness ignored. Anyone checked out the full list and worked out what the nose to the trough Vs worthy ratio is in honours lists? That would be an interesting metric to track over honours lists and governments of different colours.

High trough to worthy ratios are obviously bad but perhaps the honours complained about the most because of a few dodgy headliners might actually work out at the right end of this ratio. Since nobody seems to do the study I guess we have to just run with whatever the media types scream loudest about.