Honours

The system of honours in this country must be replaced with an alternative which simply and independently recognises courage and exceptional service to the community. The current system is now worthless, meaningless and remains dominated by civil servants, political supporters and the royals.

We believe that honours should be awarded by parliament, on behalf of the people, and not by the Queen. We believe the titles of the honours should reflect modern democratic values, and not be couched in royalist or imperialist language such as 'order of the British empire'. We also believe honours should be reserved for those who have performed exemplary service above and beyond the call of duty or who have committed significant acts of bravery.

The process should be clear and transparent and not shrouded in secrecy.

What is wrong with the honours system?

Firstly, the British honours system is utterly corrupted by the use of titles to reward political loyalty. A simple examination of any list of recipients will reveal that many of them have actively supported political parties, whether as politicians, donors or activists.

Secondly, the awards are dominated by those in senior positions within the armed forces and the civil service. Civil servants are given honours with the job. One category of honour was invented specifically for senior civil servants, utterly stripping them of any value.

The remainder are an array of awards going to people for 'services to' whatever career they have pursued, and a rather more limited number of awards to 'unsung heroes', ordinary people who have actually done something for their community.

The 'services to' category is chock full of ageing rock stars, actors, sports people and other rich and famous individuals who have been more than rewarded for their careers in the limelight.

All of this means that the awards given out have lost all value and meaning. What kind of award is an MBE to someone who has given a lifetime of work to looking after disabled children, if a higher award is given to someone who has made a fortune singing songs? What recognition are we giving charity workers if their awards are 'out-ranked' by those handed to party donors?

A new honours system

It won't surprise you to learn that we are far from alone in believing the honours system should be radically reformed. John Lidstone, a writer specialising in the honours system, has been calling for sweeping changes for many years (apparently since being offered an award himself). He makes it clear there should be only one kind of honour and a simple means by which to judge potential recipients: "those who have done signal deeds beyond their job and duty, and those who perform acts of heroism in civil or military life - and to no one else."

We also have the support of the influential Public Administration Select Committee, which investigated the whole system and reported in 2004 (Republic gave evidence to the Committee at the time).

The PAC concluded: "we share the unease of critics who were concerned at the continued award of honours to political donors and others who have rendered political services... [the committee has] doubts about the way honours are distributed to state servants, including civil servants and members of the armed forces. It was felt that the continued use of the two Orders almost exclusively conferred on state servants - the Order of the Bath and the Order of St Michael and St George - suggested that they were receiving favourable treatment."

The main recommendations of the Select Committee were that titles should be phased out over a period of five years, and that a national honour - Companion of Honour (CH) - should take their place. No more automatic awards should go to civil servants, diplomats, the Armed Forces, politicians and judges.

Republic believes that while it is important to retain some kind of national honour, the current system is wholly inappropriate in its use of royal and imperialist language and it is open to routine abuse.

It is time for a new system offering one honour for all who have earned it. The system should be taken away from the monarch and the government. Honours awarded by parliament, perhaps with the involvement of an independent commission (such as that proposed by Lidstone and the PAC) would make these genuine signs of recognition by the people.