New Year Honours List

I would rather Brecow had been honoured than Duncan Smith ...

Well of course that’s why Bercow didn’t get a gong. Did you really think Boris would agree to him having one after he did everything in his power to scupper Brexit?

Can anyone doubt that Bercow didn't get an honour because he put a stop to Boris's plans?

Ken Loach refused an OBE. Well done Ken!

Nice one Urmstongran

Maybe Bercow can be a Dame - in a pantomime production! He loves the limelight and theatrical performances.

NHS doctor launches petition against Iain Duncan Smith receiving knighthood
The decision to knight the former Conservative minister has sparked fury amongst his opponents, particularly Dr Mona Kamal Ahmed, a NHS psychiatrist, who claims Mr Smith was responsible for "some of the cruellest most extreme welfare reforms this country has ever seen"

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-doctor-launches-petition-against-21174937.amp?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar&__twitter_impression=true

The only good out of all this was that Bercow wasn't honoured. Still sceptical though that he wasn't because the nominations have to be submitted months in advance so his turn will come at the next round no doubt

Totally agree Chestnut, they're mostly a complete and utter farce. And when an "ordinary" person does occasionally get an honour for 40 years of selfless unpaid, unadvertised charity work it's always the lowest award. Sail a boat fast for your own satisfaction and they make you a Dame to quote a taxi driver " before she'd even parked the bloody boat!" I'm not saying that achievement isn't remarkable, but who did it help other than the sailor?

MadeinYorkshire totally agree with you and also signed the petition.

I have stopped feeling any emotional response to honours because so many are complete nonsense. People being honoured because they sung a few songs or made a successful movie, when they receive plenty of awards within their own field. They have been meaningless for some time now.

The whole system is outdated and not fit for purpose. Always smacks of gongs for the boys/girls.
I am always most annoyed when actors and their ilk receive such recognition -why ?
People like GA's father in law are the ones who should be honoured.

Thank you Callistemon I did not realise she was so involved with charity work.

How much does this fiasco cost. The "medals" they receive look beautiful.

One vote from me for IDS, but then he is our MP and really does get things done in the constituency. As PamelaJ1 says, he is just doing his job, so it could have been any number of others. All very arbitrary.

I bet the Beckhams were waiting in anticipation too.

Well, thank goodness the ghastly Bercow didn’t get the peerage he was hoping for!

I think Olivia Newton-John received a dame hood for her extensive work for charity, Charleygirl. She has set up a Cancer Research Institute and is a supporter of many other charities too.

Thank you MadeinYorkshire for the link. I have signed and have now shared with family to sign. ?

Marilla and Grannyactivist

A petition by an NHS Psychiatrist .... please sign and share x

chng.it/b6FJyLJtWT

Olivia Newton John a dame? Please just call me dame, I will feel humbled and honoured.

I did not realise until now IDS received a knighthood- dear God whatever next.

Marilla thank you. My father-in-law is a very modest man whose passion is to improve the lives of families who are affected by mental illness. I love him to bits and I am very proud of his achievements. He is now of an age when most people would have been retired for at least twenty years, but he still continues to travel the country to speak at conferences, train medics and maintain in his involvement in improving broken systems.

I can't say too much for fear of identifying him, but I was once on a plane and got talking to a Mental Heath nurse who had recently heard my father-in-law speak at a training event. She told me that implementing his ideas had totally transformed the way her team worked. I was so happy to be able to tell him that when I got home.

It seems to me that so many honours are given to people who are ‘just doing their jobs’.
What did IDS, and many others, do over and above what they were supposed to? ( I understand why many of you think he did you damage, I’m just using him as an example)

Grannyactivist, recognition from The Royal Society of Psychiatry is a wonderful award to receive and I hope much more meaningful than a gong from the Govt of the day.

I so agree MadeinYorkshire. Do you think the knighthood could have been promised to IDS if he didn’t cause ructions during the run up to the election?

IDS - unbelievable! That man to us disabled was the equivalent of Josef Mengele, the bastard .....

This country has definitely gone to the dogs - unreal.