The bar for getting on the new year honours list is too low

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Are the rewards of MBE, CBE etc for doing your job really necessary? (PA)

Are the rewards of MBE, CBE etc for doing your job really necessary? The bar is set so low that I wonder why Larry, No 10’s mouser, hasn’t already been awarded a gong.

There are – from time to time – well-deserved awards (for example, Captain Tom who raised millions for charity) but generally these awards are a reward for simply following the party line. Look at Maria Miller, Lord Sewell and, glaringly, Tony Blair.

The Lords is full to capacity of undeserving hangers-on who receive around £300 per day just for attending. They also eat and drink at subsidised restaurant and bar facilities at the public’s expense.