Ken Livingston turns down CBE

[Matt80M]

Snivelling champagne socialist or does he have a point that politicians shouldn't receive honours?

Discuss.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-208665...

[Silver]

"I was paid very good money to be the mayor of London and nothing beats the recognition you get when people of the city elect you in the first place."

I'm not a fan of Livingstone but I can see where he's coming from. Although it must be vaguely gratifying for him to be offered a CBE on the back of the Olympics when Boris Johnson appeared to be believed to be responsible for its success.

[Morningside]

Unlike this bh!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20863784

[Birkin1932]

I can't stand the man. But agree with him totally on this. But let's be fair, they mean nothing anymore, the top hat on it all is hector and cheries awards

This country needs to have a good look at itself and that's all political parties

[anonymous-user]

Birkin1932 said:

I can't stand the man. But agree with him totally on this. But let's be fair, they mean nothing anymore, the top hat on it all is hector and cheries awards

This country needs to have a good look at itself and that's all political parties

This.

[essexplumber]

I don't like his politics or views but I can't help but have respect for him, he even comes across as likeable when I listen to him and Mellor on LBC. Fair play Ken.

[birdcage]

He's just pissed off it's not a knighthood.... Sour grapes

[smn159]

birdcage said:

He's just pissed off it's not a knighthood.... Sour grapes

And how do you come to that conclusion?

[don4l]

birdcage said:

He's just pissed off it's not a knighthood.... Sour grapes

I agree. If he had been offered a knighthood, or a peerage, I bet that he would have accepted.

Need one mention Lord (I will never accept a peerage) Prescott?

Hypocritical socialists. Detestable creatures.


Don
--

[CHIEF]

I detest the bloke but he makes a good point. Jesus i never thought I'd agree with this sour faced old goat.

[smn159]

Apparently Danny Boyle turned one down as well, on the basis that he was proud to be an equal citizen.

Is he a detestable creature too?

[craigjm]

To be honest I would turn it down too. The whole honours system needs to be modernised. I wouldn't accept an honour from the British Empire as it was built on misery, oppression, exploitation and greed. I would be even less likely to accept it if I was from or had ancestry in any country around the world where the footprints of the empire were made. I do find it distasteful that people can be very vocal about slavery etc and what it did to countries and cultures around the world, their families etc and then in the next breath they are accepting an honour from the institution that instigated and benefited from that.

[powerstroke]

craigjm said:

To be honest I would turn it down too. The whole honours system needs to be modernised. I wouldn't accept an honour from the British Empire as it was built on misery, oppression, exploitation and greed. I would be even less likely to accept it if I was from or had ancestry in any country around the world where the footprints of the empire were made. I do find it distasteful that people can be very vocal about slavery etc and what it did to countries and cultures around the world, their families etc and then in the next breath they are accepting an honour from the institution that instigated and benefited from that.

What a load of drivel!!! we made some mistakes but compared with others we have little to be ashamed of and a lot to be proud of ...

[don4l]

craigjm said:

To be honest I would turn it down too. The whole honours system needs to be modernised. I wouldn't accept an honour from the British Empire as it was built on misery, oppression, exploitation and greed. I would be even less likely to accept it if I was from or had ancestry in any country around the world where the footprints of the empire were made. I do find it distasteful that people can be very vocal about slavery etc and what it did to countries and cultures around the world, their families etc and then in the next breath they are accepting an honour from the institution that instigated and benefited from that.

I'm from a country that was subjucated by your country.

However, I am lucky enough to be(relatively) free of chips on my shoulder.

You don't know how lucky you are to have such a wonderful Queen.

Don
--

[craigjm]

powerstroke said:

What a load of drivel!!! we made some mistakes but compared with others we have little to be ashamed of and a lot to be proud of ...

I agree it certainly wasn't all bad, any maybe not as bad as anything that Spain and others have done but that doesnt stop me feeling uncomfortable about it.

[craigjm]

don4l said:

I'm from a country that was subjucated by your country.

However, I am lucky enough to be(relatively) free of chips on my shoulder.

You don't know how lucky you are to have such a wonderful Queen.

Don
--

Its not a reflection of the Queen or the monarchy and I am far from being a republican. I don't have an issue with royalty and think they do a lot of good.

[SystemParanoia]

craigjm said:

To be honest I would turn it down too. The whole honours system needs to be modernised. I wouldn't accept an honour from the British Empire as it was built on misery, oppression, exploitation and greed. I would be even less likely to accept it if I was from or had ancestry in any country around the world where the footprints of the empire were made. I do find it distasteful that people can be very vocal about slavery etc and what it did to countries and cultures around the world, their families etc and then in the next breath they are accepting an honour from the institution that instigated and benefited from that.

my Ancestry comes from an empire "footprint"

i would happily accept a lordship or peerage, as it would allow me to stick my snout in the trough and be mega quids in!!

dont really care about the "honor" of it all.. i just wanna get paid!

[CHIEF]

smn159 said:

Apparently Danny Boyle turned one down
Is he a detestable creature too?

No

[Derek Smith]

craigjm said:

To be honest I would turn it down too. The whole honours system needs to be modernised. I wouldn't accept an honour from the British Empire as it was built on misery, oppression, exploitation and greed. I would be even less likely to accept it if I was from or had ancestry in any country around the world where the footprints of the empire were made. I do find it distasteful that people can be very vocal about slavery etc and what it did to countries and cultures around the world, their families etc and then in the next breath they are accepting an honour from the institution that instigated and benefited from that.

Do you feel the same about private enterprise then? Look to the history of India, the jewel in the crown. Not to mention slavery. Do you refuse to go to Bristol because of the fact that it was built on the profits of slavery?

There are many myths about the British empire and it is difficult to sort the truth from the spin. However, one thing comes to mind: there is no empire now and neither the Queen nor I had anything to do with it all.

If I was awarded an honour that I had worked for by Germany, should I turn it down because of the nazi horrors? If the Zulu nation feel I had helped them in some way should I throw an award back in their face because of the damage that Cetwayo caused to his own people? Then there's the Italians and the Roman occupation.

You can beat yourself up if you wish for some imagined sin of yours, but carrying resentment against those who were dead before your were born is a dead end.

[Caulkhead]

Well he's certainly done FA to deserve one.

Perhaps there's more to come from his 'personal financial arrangements' and he'd rather turn one down than have it removed?