We should not try to reform what is a rotten system. Instead
we should abolish it. [The honours system is rotten for the following
reasons.] It caters to, and inflates, human vanity. It is used
to obtain the services of civil servants, members of the Armed
Forces and other state employees on the cheap, paying them less
than they could get in the private sector. It degrades the Queen,
who nominally [(but not really, except for a few)], awards the
honours. It encourages a debased political system, where honours
are awarded to pay off party hacks and party donors. It cheapens
charity, encouraging people to do charitable work in the expectation
of being honoured rather than for true philanthropic motives.
[It distorts the behaviour of those who hope for honours, making
them kow-tow and “keep their noses clean”.]
Instead of bestowing titles and letters after one’s name
(to be used only for swank), we should borrow from a military
tradition which does neither: mention in despatches. Let those
who act beyond the call of duty be officially mentioned in the
nation’s despatches. That would be honour enough.
1The Times Register (Debate),
5 January 2004 (words in square brackets omitted).
