THIGMOO

If you want to know what's wrong with THIGMOO (THis Great Movement Of Ours) - the historic alliance between the trade unions and the Labour Party, also known as the Labour movement - then look no further than the Queen's birthday honours list.

Which contains lots of baubles for the usual suspects amongst the great and the good, but the award of two knighthoods are what stood out for me - one for Tony Robinson, a Labour 'luvvie' and presenter of quirky TV programmes these days - the other for Brendan Barber, the former general secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Now both Tony and Brendan, I imagine, are perfectly nice chaps - yet what does it say about their outlook on life, their political values - that they feel the need to accept an 'honour' of any kind never mind one that anoints these tribunes of the people - as knights of the realm.

Sure, they might have done some good things in their time - Tony as Baldric in Blackadder which passed me by I have to admit and Brendan with his service at the TUC where he spent almost all of his working life - but they were handsomely paid for their time and efforts. 

So, what's the big deal about coveting and accepting a knighthood from Her Madge - because they don't ask you formally, you know, unless they (the powers that be) know that you are going to be suitably nice about the 'bauble business' and wear your particular offering from the Queen with great pride.

I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed because history is littered with supposedly 'progressive' Labour and trade union figures climbing into bed with the establishment - as soon as they get half a chance.

But I woudn't bow, scrape or tip my hat before any of them because the business of having an honours system is just too ridiculous for words.  

Political Honours (26 February 2013)

I had a chuckle to myself when I found out that the head of the NHS in England and Wales - Sir David Nicholson - was once a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Once upon a time I found it quite incredible that there so many people with supposedly 'left-wing', progressive politics - were so desperate to accept a political 'honour' from the great and good - to become honorary members of the British establishment.

I suppose I shouldn't really have been surprised because there is a long tradition of people in the labour movement turning their back on principle - before heading off to Buckingham Palace to accept a bauble from Her Majesty.

Makes you wonder how progressive and 'left-wing' these folks really were in the first place - I suppose.

And in Sir David's case I think we have the answer - but just look at the company he's in - including the former 'Sir' Fred Goodwin, the one time boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Top Hats and Boiler Suits (August 25th 2009)

Another great story to appear in the press recently concerns William McIlvanney - one of Scotland's most celebrated and talented writers.

McIlvanney revealed that he turned down an OBE in the Queen’s honours list – and went on to compare the honour to "putting a top hat on a man in a boiler suit".

William McIlvanney explained that his decision was private - unlike that of artist and writer John Byrne - the inspiration behind the smash hit series Tutti Frutti - and all the madness involving The Majestics, Eddie Clockerty and Miss Toner.

But John Byrne was making a serious point - when he rejected an MBE for services to art and literature recently - to signify his "absolute disgust" at the Iraq war.

William McIlvanney told the Scotland on Sunday that had written to Downing Street to say he would not be accepting the OBE for "purely personal" reasons.

"It's something that I tried on in my mind, and I found it didn't fit," he explained. "The sleeves were too long, and it just wasn't part of me.”

“It felt like trying to put a top hat on a man in a boiler suit.”

"The idea of rejecting an honour isn't something I've done with any anger, or to demean other people. There are a lot of people who carry out unsung work. I'm only too happy for them to be recognised."

McIlvanney said: "There have been a lot of honours given for dubious reasons in the past, like providing your wife as the king's bed warmer. The system is riddled with ludicrous elements."

But not everyone takes such a noble stand - there are lots of trade unionists only too glad to accept such honours - as a quick Google search shows:

• Bernard McGill (MBE) – from the north east regional TUC
• Felicity Mendelson (MBE) – from Unison (north east)
• Anne Middleton (MBE) - former deputy regional secretary Unison (Scotland)
• Terri Miller (MBE) – from Unite (south east)
• Matt Smith (OBE) – current regional secretary Unison (Scotland)
• Yvonne Strachan (OBE) - former regional organiser TGWU (Scotland) – now Unite

And that’s the eternal battle within the trade union movement – how to challenge the establishment – while resisting the temptation to become part of the establishment.

Some people do it better than others - you pays your money and takes your choice.

Michael McGahey – a Scottish miner and former leader of the NUM – would never have crossed the road for an MBE or OBE.

So hats off to Mick McGahey, William McIlvanney and John Byrne - so long as it's not Top Hats, of course.