Honours list

Just what is the point of the honours system? It is not about rewarding the hard-working unsung heroes with a publicly appreciated symbol of their hard work. Quite the contrary; they pay for their trip to the Palace to get a bauble; but only when it doesn't conflict with the really important people getting a reward.

The real honours (and I use that phrase loosely) go to the great and the good for public service, for being rich, for long service or for being famous.

The former is the brown-nosers who don't rock the boat
The second category are being rewarded for making lots of money (NOT distributing loads of money)
The third are being rewarded for doing their job for a few years - not doing it well, just not doing it badly - and it goes with the fat Civil Service pension they enjoy
The last are FoT - friends of Tony's - those with whom he wants to enjoy a holiday.

Personally, I look forward to the lapel badges becoming available. I think I'll get a false complete set from ebay and wear them alternate days.

If anyone had any doubts about the system, Prince Nazeem loses his MBE for dangerous driving, yet prejurer and convicted liar Jeffrey Archer remains a Lord.