Whittam Smith honoured for film classification work

The founding editor of The Independent, Andreas Whittam Smith, is among the journalists, politicians and businessmen honoured today.

Mr Whittam Smith is appointed CBE for his contribution as president of the British Board of Film Classification.

Among other journalists recognised are Peter Stothard, the former editor of The Times, who is knighted, and Richard Tait, the former editor-in-chief of Independent Television News, who is appointed CBE. The cartoonists Charles Peattie and Russell Taylor, responsible for Alex the stockbroker, are appointed MBE while The Sun is recognised in an honours list for the first time in 30 years with Arthur Edwards, its royal photographer, created OBE.

Pauline Green, the Labour politician and chief executive of the Co-operative Union, is one of only five women to be appointed a Dame.

Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, is knighted, as are Peter Burt, executive deputy chairman of Halifax Bank of Scotland, and John Rose, chief executive of Rolls-Royce.

David Garrard, the property magnate and chairman of Minerva, is knighted for "charitable services". He contributed £2m to one of Labour's new flagship City Academy schools, the Bexley Business Academy in south-east London.

Paul Myners, who led the Government's review of pension fund investment, is created OBE. Archy Kirkwood, the Liberal Democrat MP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, is the only serving MP to be knighted in this round of honours.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the British permanent representative to the United Nations, is created a Knight Grand Cross while David Durie, the Governor of Gibraltar, is knighted.