Class, race and sexuality test if you have been given an honour
HONOURS winners are to be questioned on their class, ethnicity and sexuality to make getting a CBE, OBE, MBE or knighthood more inclusive and less middle-class.
But last night critics, including Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe, warned of “manipulation of the system”.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said he wants to make the award of honours “fully representative”.
“We plan to collect the socio-economic background of honours recipients for the first time in the forthcoming New Year’s Honours List 2020, and we plan to publish the data in due course,” he said.
“We plan to record which region recipients are from.this is so we can assess whether any part of the UK is underrepresented and target outreach activities appropriately.
“We also plan to collect data on gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation.”
Of the 1,017 people in
June’s Birthday Honours, 47 per cent were women, six per cent disabled and three per cent lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender with 10 per cent
from an ethnic minority. “We are trying hard to spread the word that things like sexual orientation or background should not inhibit people
being put forward,” said an honours committee source last night.
Mr Dowden was answering a parliamentary question from Labour’s Stephanie Peacock, who sat on the women and equalities committee.
She said: “The Government should immediately set about ensuring the honours system works to give recognition to deserving people everywhere, not just a privileged few.”
The details are to be taken on a voluntary basis after the honour has been awarded.