Former top Russian spy Oleg Gordievsky rubs shoulders with cricketer Ian Botham, author Salman Rushdie and actor Barry Humphries in the Queen's birthday honours list, published on Saturday.
Gordievsky, a KGB Colonel who became the highest ranking defector in the Cold War when he first started spying for and later escaped to Britain, becomes a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
His citation for the award, usually reserved for top diplomats, is for services to the security of the United Kingdom.
The award comes as relations between Britain and Russia are under strain over the murder in London last year with radioactive Polonium 210 of another former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, who accused Moscow of ordering his death.
2007-06-15 22:27:02 · 15 answers · asked by mike4nick 3 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
Absolutely on the nail Black Orchid
2007-06-15 22:39:06 · update #1
No i don't agree with them they are always given to highly paid people
They should be given to the ordinary person who risks their lives or do good works with very little pay These are the sort of people who should have the recognition
2007-06-15 22:38:06 · answer #1 · answered by Black Orchid 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think they used to reward people who gave something to the nation, one way or another. Harold Wilson started the rot with his 'lavender list' and it's just got worse under Blair. A Labour Prime Minister awards honours on the grounds of how much he might donate to the Labour party. Give me strength. At least I agree with Ian Botham but the very fact that David Beckham was up for grabs is amazing. What has he done apart from making loadsa money for himself. What has he ever won? How did the rumour get around that he might get a knighthood?
2007-06-16 11:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is sad that these honours are given by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister it follows that many honours given are not given for any other reason than they are thought to be population with the population in general. Another factor is that publicity must not be given prior to the award being announced, this may be the reason why Beckham did not receive his knighthood.
Anyone can recommend anyone for an award but obviously the the nearer you are to the seat of power the more likely your recommendations are to be accepted.
My own feeling is that if you have a cheap and nasty politician as PM and not all of them have been you will get a cheap and nasty honours list leaving the awards devalued for those who have sweated blood to get them. You will have your own ideas about who is or is not a cheap and nasty PM
2007-06-16 04:02:27 · answer #3 · answered by Scouse 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm quite shocked that Ian Botham got a honour , yes lately he has done some good work , but he had a drug problem , so there's hope for everyone.
As for the rest of them , well there seems very little common sence into what they did or did not do to get these honours for.
2007-06-16 12:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by Stephen A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a complete waste of time, so old fashioned and the people who get them is just taking the P***ss out of people who really do deserve recognition for work they do like top scientists, surgeons. Why the heck should Barrie Humphries get an honour for dressing up all of his life as a female i dont he think he is in the least bit funny at all.Time the honours were scrapped especially in the wake of the "cash for honours" disgrace!!
2007-06-16 02:42:04 · answer #5 · answered by nmore 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They're a complete waste of time. Most of the people who receive them have done nothing out of the ordinary at all. Just an outdated tool to give the Monarchy some power. If I by some unfortunate chance was ever nominated for one I'd refuse it.
2007-06-15 23:38:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honour is earned and is granted by those you interact with. Truely honourable people don't seek rewards and don't need them and dont want them. They do what they do because they are 'honourable' not because they want money or recognition. I've got nothing against the queen but we don't need her to tell us who is honourable. There are many wonderful people on the list and I am not trying to take anything away from them.
2007-06-16 01:48:53 · answer #7 · answered by istaffa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ian botham knighted for his charity work,,,
dont make me laugh.
what about the thousands of people up and down
the UK who work voluntarily in charity shops for nothing,
2007-06-16 09:04:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't agree with them.Rushdie is a hypocrite.He insulted Islam for recognition in the west.
2007-06-16 07:23:20 · answer #9 · answered by Ahmad 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would have to agree with my grandfather who turned his down. It is not for the modern world,
2007-06-16 01:10:36 · answer #10 · answered by Leo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋