Beckham’s case for a K is peerless

VOTING is so popular nowadays it would be instructive to hold a referendum on whether David Beckham should have a knighthood.

That’s because this newspaper believes the Cabinet Office Honours Committee might be in need of a little instruction.

Beckham has been top of his game in every sense for more than 20 years. The public would surely feel he deserves more recognition than the OBE he received in 2003.

Aside from football, Beckham has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and a fine ambassador for Britain.

On and off the pitch he is the kind of hero parents are happy for their children to idolise. As a businessman and family man he is a model of how to turn both into a successful brand.

But there is something in Beckham’s life today that he might wish were different.

He might regret his obsession with Establishment recognition, and with the trinkets the Establishment bestows, now that it has been revealed.

But it is understandable that, having given so much to charity and country, he is miffed the honour he believes to be his due still eludes him.

That might call for him to reconsider his values. And for us as a nation to reconsider ours given that we put so much value on baubles.

The honours system means that unsung heroes who have devoted their lives to quietly helping others can have something to sing about.

SECRETIVE

But it is ridiculous that senior civil servants get knighthoods just for doing their jobs. Even when they have done those jobs badly.

There is clearly something wrong with the system, but we cannot know what that is because the system is so secretive.

The Honours Committee and its advisory bodies are made up of 80 members who read like a who’s who of Britain’s elite.

The main committee consists of four lords, seven knights, two dames and only one mister. Ordinary people they are not.

Their deliberations are so hush-hush even MI6 would be impressed. And the first the public get to hear about it is when the honours list is published.

Should there be questions over why, say, Beckham is left off then they go unanswered.

It would be much better if honours were to be run like the Oscars.

So-called experts would still make the decisions so all those lords, knights and dames could keep their jobs. The difference would be that the process would be more transparent and therefore we could be reassured it is fair.

We would know the identities of the nominees, and, if they were unsuccessful one year, they could return the next. And if they remained unsuccessful we could ask why.

We are asking now. Why are so many sporting stars knighted for achieving so much less?

If there were tick boxes for getting a “K” then Beckham ticks every one.

Which is why we look forward to seeing him on the next honours list.

It’s high time he was told: “Arise, Sir David.”