Lynn Faulds Wood, the former presenter of consumer affairs programme BBC Watchdog, has turned down an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours, saying the system has to be dragged “into the 21st Century”.
The Scottish television presenter said that she would be a “hypocrite” to accept the honour for her work on consumer safety.
The New year Honours list, which is due to be released late on Friday, celebrate those who have done outstanding work in the community, for the country, or in their field of expertise.
Ms Faulds Wood says that she objects to the word “empire” and that the honours system is “unfair”.
The broadcaster did say that she may be “deserving of an honour”, but couldn’t accept it due to her objections.
Ms Faulds Wood said: “I would love to have an honour if it didn’t have the word ’empire’ on the end of it. We don’t have an empire, in my opinion.
“I think honours are really important and should be given to people who have done really good stuff.
“And I’ve changed laws and I’ve helped saved a lot of people’s lives, so maybe I’m deserving of an honour, but I just wouldn’t accept it while we still have party donors donating huge amounts of money and getting an honour.”
The news comes a day after Professor Phil Scraton, a key figure in the Hillsborough campaign for justice, has turned down an OBE in New Year Honours list.
Prof Scraton, who led the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s research team, has chosen not to receive the honour in protest “at those who remained unresponsive” to help those affected by the disaster which saw 96 people killed in 1989.
He said that his choice “might come as a disappointment to some Hillsborough families, survivors and whoever nominated me”.
He continued: “I could not accept an honour tied in name to the ‘British Empire'”.
Any chance we could have prospective MBE recipients who decline the honour do so in grammatical English?
Modern English is about being easily understood. I’m sure you had no difficulties. Nevertheless, as you’re being pedantic, perhaps you should have begun your acceptable but clumsily-constructed sentence with “Is there any chance…”, rather than “Any chance…”?
Tut-tut. Guess who is pedantic?
You’ve clearly missed the sarcastic barb within my reply to your pedantic drivel and plainly, you’re far too ill-equipped to dictate to others what you clumsily call “grammatical English” or argue semantics with anyone, let alone me….the point of my reply was that nobody likes the language Police (you) and this is a 21st century online newspaper forum, not an English language examination….QED (quod erat demonstrandum).
You’ve clearly missed my sarcastic barb, so you’re plainly ill-equipped to dictate to others what you clumsily call “grammatical English” or argue semantics with anyone, let alone me….the point of my reply was that nobody likes the language Police (you) and this is just a 21st century online newspaper forum, not an English language examination….QED (quod erat demonstrandum).
You’ve clearly missed my sarcastic barb, so you’re plainly ill-equipped to dictate to others what you clumsily call “grammatical English” or argue semantics with anyone, let alone me….the point of my reply was that nobody likes the language Police (you) and this is just a 21st century online newspaper forum, not an English language examination….QED (quod erat demonstrandum) or “end of”!
Au contraire, the sarcasm came though loud and clear. Glad to see you can spell QED.
….and it’s good to see that you can spell au contraire! I’m out and in good company, so you’ll excuse my brevity. Whatever your real name is, let’s draw a line under the subject and let me wish you and yours a very happy new year….bon chance mon adversaire à sa taille!
E per me: Felice anno nuovo grido a Lei con voca da ubriachi mio amico!
Commies
I am not a communist …but there IS no empire. I doubt I would ever be offered one of these honours since I don’t expect many people know what good works I might have been involved in. If I were offered one I would refuse it.
I hold an honor given by Her Majesty the Queen and I don’t think most people understand what Empire means at this point in history much less what their personal feelings are about such an honor. This is about being recognized to the society in which you live for service to that society and as such should not be turned down
Fair play to those that refuse the sanctimonious trite. It’s been devalued to the point of uselessness and besides Philip Green still has his knighthood for services to robbing pension funds.