The term Knights if the Shires is an occasionally features as journalese to describe elderly Members of Parliament, usually any Conservative backbenchers with long service who possess a knighthood.
Largely autonomous outside their constituencies , they are part of the loyal "Lobby Fodder" who could be relied on to vote with the party no matter what the circumstances
This has somewhat fallen out of practise has somewhat fallen out of favour, as Prime ministers seemed to have concentrated awarding political honours to supporters outside Parliament.
Peerages and Knighthoods have been awarded to donors and aids , even wen the PM claims to stop doing so.
It is interesting that it is the Telegraph who claim that
The ruse seems to have worked as Mrs May let me keep my job knighthood was largely lost in the news of Sir Ringo and Sir Barry hit the headlines and the Knighthood given to Nick Clegg apparently for destroying his party.
Since the Prime Minister is supposed to be first among equals does not given Knighthoods to sitting MPs suggest , some are more equal than others.
The Practice of dangling a seat on the Privy Council may well be used to prevent opposition MPs from disclosing privileged information and it was the practice that should a Privy Counsellor rise to speak in the House of Commons at the same time as another Honourable Member, the Speaker usually gives priority to the "Right Honourable" Member. This parliamentary custom, however, was discouraged under New Labour after 1998, despite the Government not being supposed to exert influence over the Speaker.
Does it still happen?
Personally I will never address a fellow citizen as Sir or Dame (which woman would want to?) or Lord and its time to consider abolition all titles.
We are entering 2018 not 1718 after all.
Largely autonomous outside their constituencies , they are part of the loyal "Lobby Fodder" who could be relied on to vote with the party no matter what the circumstances
This has somewhat fallen out of practise has somewhat fallen out of favour, as Prime ministers seemed to have concentrated awarding political honours to supporters outside Parliament.
Peerages and Knighthoods have been awarded to donors and aids , even wen the PM claims to stop doing so.
It is interesting that it is the Telegraph who claim that
Theresa May has moved to shore up her future as Tory leader by giving top honours to half of the ruling board of the Conservative party’s influential 1922 committee.
Three of the committee’s six-strong board have received senior honours: Graham Brady, the chairman, and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the honorary treasurer, are knighted; while Cheryl Gillan, a vice chairman, is made a dame.
The support of the 1922 committee is vital for Mrs May to deliver on her promise to serve a full five year term as party leader.
Sir Graham is listened to closely by the leadership and would play a crucial role in any future leadership contest, which would be triggered if 15 per cent of the party's MPs - 48 at present - write to him requesting one.
All three backed Leave in the European Union referendum, as did a fourth Conservative MP to be honoured, veteran former minister Christopher Chope who receives a knighthood.
The honours would appear at odds with claims from Mrs May after she became Prime Minister that she would bring an end to handing out honours to cronies.
The ruse seems to have worked as Mrs May let me keep my job knighthood was largely lost in the news of Sir Ringo and Sir Barry hit the headlines and the Knighthood given to Nick Clegg apparently for destroying his party.
Since the Prime Minister is supposed to be first among equals does not given Knighthoods to sitting MPs suggest , some are more equal than others.
The Practice of dangling a seat on the Privy Council may well be used to prevent opposition MPs from disclosing privileged information and it was the practice that should a Privy Counsellor rise to speak in the House of Commons at the same time as another Honourable Member, the Speaker usually gives priority to the "Right Honourable" Member. This parliamentary custom, however, was discouraged under New Labour after 1998, despite the Government not being supposed to exert influence over the Speaker.
Does it still happen?
Personally I will never address a fellow citizen as Sir or Dame (which woman would want to?) or Lord and its time to consider abolition all titles.
We are entering 2018 not 1718 after all.
2 comments:
Watched an edition of the Crown last night. Eden asleep and bleeding, waiting for the President to come out of a meeting. Caustic comment from Eisenhower about an empire that was no more. Churchill lying to the queen about his competence and almost crying about loss of empire. Now I know it is a drama but it is probably not far off the mark. The establishment probably can't gain say it as they have probably lost those records as well!
Awards named after an institution that has not existed for over 50 years. Honours that went to Tory MPs that May needs to stay in power and most people have never heard of. Nothing for those that deserve to be recognised for their heroic work at Grenfell. A country that keeps on looking backward, rewarding the rich and powerful and nothing but austerity for the ordinary people that keep this country going.
Post a Comment