Despite leading Britain to a Brexit victory and decades of public service Nigel Farage has once again been snubbed for an honour. Many had accused Mr Farage of stepping down Brexit Party candidates in order to receive a title but this has not turned out to be true. As usual the Honours System has provoked controversy from all sides of the political divide.
Sir Elton John, who is already a Knight, joins the elite companions of honour which is an order restricted to a maximum 65 members, for services to music and charity. John who is married to his husband David Furnish spends most of his time in France and criticised the decision of the UK to leave the EU.
Nadiya Hussein, the winner of the Great British Bake off, has also been made an OBE in what is said to be a recognition of her charitable work. She was born in Britain of Bangladeshi origin and speaks of the difficulties of her arranged marriage to her husband. She also said she started wearing the hijab at 14 mostly to cover for her bad hair.
Singer Olivia Newton-John has been made a dame in a New Year Honours list that recognises four members of England’s Cricket World Cup winning squad.
Newton-John’s damehood is for services to music, cancer research and charity. The Cambridge-born star, who moved to Australia as a child, achieved global fame in the 1978 film Grease. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she became a campaigner and in 2012 set up a cancer centre near Melbourne.
“I am extremely excited, honoured and grateful beyond words to be included with such an esteemed group of women who have received this distinguished award before me.”
All-rounder Ben Stokes, man of the match in the victory against New Zealand at Lord’s in July, becomes an OBE, while team captain Eoin Morgan receives the higher CBE award.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and batsman and England Test captain Joe Root become MBEs, and coach Trevor Bayliss an OBE.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor is made an OBE in the year his band’s biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, set cinema box office records.
Gabby Logan, becomes an MBE for services to sports broadcasting and promoting women’s sport.
Female sporting success is also celebrated with an OBE for world taekwondo champion Jade Jones, and MBEs for netballers Serena Guthrie and Joanne Harten, and footballers Jill Scott of England and Loren Dykes of Wales.
In politics there are knighthoods for former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and fellow Tory MP Robert Neil. Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Hull North, becomes a dame for charitable and political service.
Many on the left have criticised the Knighthood for Duncan-Smith owing to his support for the Universal Credit scheme which they say has put many people into poverty across the UK.
The other damehoods include author Rose Tremain; former Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders; social justice campaigner Julia Unwin; FA director of Women’s football Susan Campbell, and Floella Benjamin, the TV presenter turned Lib Dem peer, who is recognised for services to charity.
Eoin Morgan said: “Winning the World Cup has been a dream come true and the honours and awards that have come since that day at Lord’s really mean a lot to everyone connected with the team.”
The knighthoods include veteran cricketer Clive Lloyd; Oscar-winning film directors Sam Mendes and Steve McQueen; classical music presenter Humphrey Burton, and playwright Christopher Hampton.
The youngest person on the list is Ibrahim Yousaf, 13, who receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) for charity fundraising in Greater Manchester.
Please remember and SIGN UP below for e-mail updates from UNN on important news!
Lead Correspondent | David Clews is the Lead Correspondent for UNN, with over 20 years of political/campaigning experience and a wealth of social media and communication skills David gets to the heart of what is really important to the real people of the UK.
Keep up to date with all of David & UN’s work by linking up with us on our Social Media Channels by Clicking Here Now: https://unitynewsnetwork.co.uk/our-social-media-links/
