Dishonouring the past
Have the Tories missed the opportunity of their own over removing the Mugabe knighthood?
"Sir" Robert Mugabe's honour has always been an embarrassment to the Tories as it was conferred during Sir John Major's premeirship.
David Cameron's office has had discreet conversation with Sir John's about whether it could be removed. Sir John is believed to have responded that because the knighthood was in the gift of the Queen - apparently the award did not come before Number 10 back in 1994 - it should be for the Government of the day to advise her to take it away.
Mr Cameron dropped the matter.
Tory sources made plain last night that Sir John was pleased the honour had been rescinded. And to be fair to the Tories until this week Labour minsiters seemed loath to do anything for fear of giving the dictator a propaganda point.
I cannot see why the Conservatives would feel embarrased by this.Under this Labour government a sir adolph hitler,pope pohl pott
(the first of course) or his excellency sadam hussein would have been quite possible depending on how much cash they were willing to part with
Posted by: Steve Cartmell | 28 Jun 2008 12:16:52