Are top recipients too posh and too southern? | Global News Avenue

According to the BBC’s analysis of cabinet office data, only 6% of new New Year honors are awarded to people in northern England, while only 4% from working-class backgrounds.

More than 60% of the beneficiaries of the “higher” awards, such as the commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), as well as the Knights and Lady, reside in London and southeast England.

In response, the government said it would host events to encourage honor nominations, especially in undernominated communities and locations.

A government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is very clear that he wants to see the representatives in terms of length and breadth of the UK.”

The spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer hopes the honor system reflects “the extraordinary contribution of every region of this country”.

The Prime Minister sets a strategic direction for honor, hoping that they “give them according to merits, regardless of background.

The latest honors data from the Cabinet Office (for CBE and above) show that CEOs, professors and senior civil servants are ordinary recipients.

But the government wants to ensure that honors also reach “underrepresentative communities and hope to see further types of rewards in the types of jobs that are rewarded with a variety of rewards”.

“Given honors should not be automatically or presumed because of the job or position held by an individual,” the government said.

It plans to promote projects and public activities involving ministers to encourage more nominations from outside London to reflect the Prime Minister’s desire for their “proper diversity and reflection of British society”.

“We continue to carry out this task by working in underrepresented areas to raise awareness of the honor system and encourage more nominations,” a government spokesperson said.

Analysis of the 142 highest honors in the New Year – CBES, Bathroom Orders, Honorary Companions, Knights and Lady – reveals significant regional and social divides:

• Northeast England is not alone
• Only 6% of the recipients make up 23% of the UK population in the north, northeast and northwest and throughout the joint region of Yorkshire and Humber
• The West Midlands (8% of the population) received 3% of the award
• London and southeast England account for 27% of the UK population, with a large number of representatives, of which 61% are of senior awards
• Scotland and Wales have similar honors to their population. Insufficient number of people in Northern Ireland
• 4% grow up in working-class families
• About 50 people offered honors last year declined
• Next honor ranks, such as OBE, MBE and BEMS, London and Southeast have 64% honors, and 33% of working-class background

This year’s New Year’s list is seen as an opportunity to honor “unsung heroes and community champions” – but in reality, awards that are considered more prestigious seem to be focused on wealthy people in wealthy areas.

According to the Cabinet Office, only 4% of recipients of “higher” awards grew up in “lower socioeconomic” families – defined as parents who work as jobs such as delivery drivers, postal workers, security guards and retail staff – It accounts for nearly 40% of employees.

Norman Baker, former interior minister and honor system critic, said: “It’s very unfair. It’s not based on merit; it’s based on the top-down nature of society. It needs to change and is outdated.” .”

He believes that there are two ways to award honor systems to different social groups. In addition to the 142 “higher” awards for the New Year, there are more than 1,000 officials in the British Empire (OBES), British Empire Members (MBES) and British Empire Medal.

“If you are a senior civil servant, you end up with the highest honors. If you are a lollipop lady who has worked outside of school for 60 years, you might get an MBE if you are lucky, Mr. Baker said.

Private Eye Magazine recently stressed that senior lawyers representing the post office companies received higher rewards from CBE despite a group of sub-appointers who made mistakes in the post office scandal. X describes X’s “completely shocking” with Kevin Hollinrake being the shadow secretary, secretary of upgrades, housing and community.

“It’s time to make the system change,” said Rosie Lockwood of IPPR’s Northern Think Tank. “The honor system is another example of how the country has created how people in the northern region are ignored.”

Transparent International, a movement against corruption in public life, said it should be clear who nominated honorary winners. Is it from government departments or companies seeking rewards for their own senior employees? How many are the public or community groups really nominated?

“If there is a perception that distance from power and personal wealth will greatly increase the chances of obtaining gongs, it will not help build confidence and trust in the honor system,” said Daniel Bruce, CEO of the organization. ”

There are also attempts to make honor more representative – with the public Invite to submit a nomination.

There are or do not disperse gender in the honours and even in the honours, while minorities receive a reward of 12% compared to 6% a decade ago.

Now, the range of honors available is also wider – the winner of the first humanitarian medal has just been announced.

The winners talked about the huge positive impact of such awards, not only for themselves, but also for their colleagues’ efforts.

Manchester-based Anna Daniell was one of the humanitarian medal winners last week. She is recognized for medical assistance to help survivors of the deadly floods in Libya in 2023.

She said winning the medal was a “surprise”, but it was also very important to “how to highlight the importance of humanitarian aid.”

Amanda Chadwick, of Manchester, said being an MBE changed her life because it raised awareness of the charity of her children and helped her attract more people.

Railway worker Siggy Cragwell, originally from Barbados, proudly wore his British Empire Medal, which he awarded at the age of 85 last year for 62 years on the railway. He was a guest of honor at the unveiling of the Windrush Monument at the Waterloo Station in London.

However, there are some questions about the title of modern medals, especially about the use of “Empire”. The poet Benjamin Zephaniah rejected his connection to colonialism.

“About 2% of people refuse to accept honors,” the cabinet office said, but gave no reason.

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: “People refuse honors for various reasons and we respect their personal decisions.”

More than 20 years ago, the Public Administration Committee of the House of Commons elected committee called for a distance from the term “imperial”, which was subsequently rejected by the then-British government.

Other reports Avi Holden and David Ainslie