Sam bags an OBE for Lions duty
SAM WARBURTON leads a swathe of sporting stars to receive awards in the New Year Honours for 2018.
The Lions rugby captain, 29, receives an OBE after leading the tourists to a series draw against New Zealand in the summer.
England Women’s cricket skipper HEATHER KNIGHT, 27, also receives an OBE after lifting the World Cup at Lord’s in July. Her team-mates ANYA
SHRUBSOLE, 26, who took six for 46 against India, the best-ever figures in a final, and top runs-scorer TAMMY BEAUMONT, 26, are awarded MBEs.
Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’ coach, 79-year-old ERIC HARRISON who developed Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, receives an MBE.
In rugby union, there are also OBEs for IAN McLAUCHLAN, the 75-year-old former Scotland captain, and ED MORRISON, 66, the first professional English referee.
Paralympian STEF REID, 33, a silver medallist at the London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics in the F44 long jump, is handed an MBE and so is Dr JAMES ROBSON, 59, the former Lions and Scotland rugby union team doctor.
NICKY HENDERSON, 67, the great jump racing trainer, has been made a Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant.
THERESA MAY hands gongs to a powerful Parliamentary ally and several pro-Brexit MPs in the New Year honours today.
The chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, Graham Brady, is awarded a knighthood. A veteran MP and close ally of the PM, he gave her his staunch support after the Tories lost their majority in June’s snap election.
Three other senior backbench Tories – who all backed Leave in the EU referendum – are also honoured.
The awards prompted claims last night that Mrs May was handing out ‘political favours’. But the list was a far cry from previous ones. David Cameron was heavily criticised for rewarding an array of donors, advisers and members of his ‘chumocracy’.
By contrast, there are no major Tory donors on today’s list, and none of Mrs May’s former political advisers and spin doctors who lost their jobs after the election were given gongs. There were also knighthoods for two Labour MPs.
The most notable political name was Sir Graham’s. He is the voice of the Tory backbenches at Westminster and provided critical support when Mrs May’s enemies were plotting against her this summer.
Last night Sir Graham said: ‘I am delighted. It’s a huge honour. My family are thrilled.’
Two other members of the 1922 Committee executive are also honoured, with vicechairman Cheryl Gillan being made a dame while treasurer Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is knighted.
All three are long-standing MPs and backed Leave in the EU referendum, as did a fourth Tory MP to be honoured, ex-minister Christopher Chope, who is knighted.
But the awards for leavers were offset by knighthoods for Nick Clegg and, for Labour, Commons Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, and Preston MP Mark Hendrick.
There is also an OBE for Lib Dem deputy leader and Scots MP Jo Swinson.
David Leakey, who finishes a seven-year term as Black Rod in Parliament this weekend, is made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) by the Queen.
Cabinet Office mandarins are to investigate after several names on this year’s list, including Ringo Starr, were leaked to the media ahead of the official announcement.
Sir Jonathan Stephens, head of the main honours committee, said: ‘We have tightened up procedures but we will look again at the system.’