I have opinions on the Honours system. My opinions are conflicting and not completely internally consistent. Yes, the basic premise of the whole thing sucks (we, the powerful, choose to honour you, the not-powerful), and the trappings of Empire that the whole thing is wrapped up in are terrible.

But leaving as absurd the perennial abuse of the whole idea by the Oxford PPEs who want to scratch the backs of their buddies, that leaves the communities who use it as a way to publicly thank the nurse, the librarian, the social worker, the doctor, the young fundraiser or activist, the person making the world better for those around them, and then to see that thanks broadcast nationally.

More power to the celebrities and others who turn the things down, but please don’t let that detract from the communities who choose to thank and honour their own, even in a broken, archaic, iniquitous system.

And yes, we should find a better way of doing this.