Damehood for CBI chief accused of being driving force of Project Fear
A LEADING business lobbyist accused of being one of the architects of “Project Fear” in the EU referendum campaign has been awarded a damehood in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Carolyn Fairbairn, chief executive of the CBI, received the honour for services to business. She was described as an “outstanding advocate for British business”.
Dame Carolyn was a high-profile voice for Remain who warned that Brexit could cost up to a million jobs and cause long-term damage to the economy.
Priti Patel, the Tory MP who campaigned for Leave, said: “This is a reward for the regressive campaign that the CBI conducted against our country and the result of the referendum. The public will be appalled to see that the doom-mongers of Brexit are receiving honours for their role in the Brexit betrayal. This is a stain on our democracy.”
Jacob Rees-mogg, a leading Eurosceptic Tory MP, said: “It tells you all you need to know about the CBI. It says what it is asked to say to support government policy on the EU and she is then dutifully rewarded. I congratulate her. Obedience pays off. It is a great thing to be a dame.”
During the EU campaign, Dame Carolyn and the CBI were accused of scaremongering after claiming Brexit could cost the economy £100billion.
Dame Carolyn had highlighted research commissioned by the CBI from auditors PWC that found in the “best case scenario”, 550,000 jobs would go over four years after Brexit, rising to 950,000 in the event of a no-deal exit. She said: “This analysis shows very clearly why leaving the European Union would be a real blow for living standards, jobs and growth.
“The savings from reduced EU budget contributions and regulation are greatly outweighed by the negative impact on trade and investment.”
The Crown’s new leading lady is among those rewarded for services to entertainment
Of course, it’s not really Her Majesty who decides on these things – that’s up to a team of civil servants – but you could almost see it as a fitting tribute from one Queen to another.
Olivia Colman, the actress who plays Elizabeth II in the forthcoming series of The Crown, is to receive a CBE in her Birthday Honours for services to drama.
Characteristically for an actress who tends to appear embarrassed in the limelight, Colman has asked that the award be presented to her under her real name, Sarah Caroline Sinclair, rather than her stage name.
Colman, who won an Oscar for best actress for her role as Queen Anne in
The Favourite earlier this year, said: “I’m totally thrilled, delighted and humbled to be in the company of these incredible people, most of whom have been nowhere near as visible as I have, but should be – and hopefully now will be. It’s such an honour.”
Norwich-born Colman, 45, came to prominence in Channel 4 comedy series Peep Show, before starring in ITV’S crime drama Broadchurch, BBC drama The Night Manager and films including Hot Fuzz,
Tyrannosaur and The Iron Lady, where she played Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol.
She recently said that playing the current Queen had been much harder than her role in The
Favourite “because everyone knows what she looks like, everyone knows what she sounds like, everyone has an opinion on whether the casting is right”.
Fellow actor Simon Russell Beale, 58, receives a knighthood for services to drama. The stage actor, described as one of the finest of his generation, said: “It is a very great honour and I think my mother, were she alive, would be very proud.”
Establishment honours might have been anathema to the musicians who came out of the punk rock explosion of the 1970s, but four decades on they are finding recognition at the palace.
Elvis Costello, 64, whose songs frequently aimed pointed barbs at British manners and institutions, is being awarded an OBE. Another
child of the punk movement, Feargal Sharkey, 60, the former frontman of The Undertones, is also accepting an OBE. Sharkey and his band of fellow Derry teenagers created a joyful counterpoint to the Troubles with songs such as Teenage Kicks chronicling love and adolescent angst.
At the other end of the cultural spectrum, Joanna Trollope, 75, the author whose work inspired the term Aga Saga and whose stories of middleclass people revealed depths of passion and intrigue, is to be made a CBE to add to her OBE.
Rachel Whiteread, 56, the artist and sculptor famous for her casts of objects, particularly that of a Victorian terrace house, which won her the Turner Prize, is being made a Dame.
Other stars of entertainment being recognised include Cush Jumbo, the British star of the US drama The Good
Wife, who receives an MBE, and Alastair Fothergill, the producer of the acclaimed Blue Planet and Planet
Earth series, who receives an OBE.
Honour Majesty’s secret service: knighthoods for top spies
The UK’S spy chiefs have both received knighthoods in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, is recognised for public service following a 35-year career with the agency during which he led the response to the July 7 2005 London bombings.
According to the official citation, he
has overseen the disruption of 27 attack plots since becoming directorgeneral in 2013 and led the response to the wave of five terror atrocities in 2017.
Alex Younger, the head of MI6, also receives a knighthood for services to national security. He has been Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – a position known as “M” – since November 2014, after a career of more than 20 years as an MI6 officer. Senior police officers are also well represented on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with Sara Thornton, former chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), made a Dame.
Earlier this year, she issued a stark warning that government cuts had forced police to retreat from the streets and left them “really struggling” to tackle routine crime. Sir Andrew said: “For me, although bestowed individually, this award recognises from the highest level the tireless work of all those at MI5 who strive every day to keep this country safe. MI5 is its people,” he said. “Like me, they are passionate about our mission and derive enormous satisfaction from knowing that they regularly save lives and help safeguard our country.
“I am extremely proud to represent them as the public face of the organisation, and in receiving this honour.”
Sir Michael Burton, head of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal – the body that scrutinises the security services – receives an upgrade on his honour, becoming a GBE. Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner Ms Thornton, who is a former chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said: “I am absolutely delighted and humbled to receive a DBE for services to policing.
“It was a privilege to serve the public as a police officer for over 30 years – often challenging, but always rewarding.
“I have worked with officers and staff from all forces in my national role and never failed to be impressed by their commitment, courage and good humour.
“They protect the public and keep communities safe and it was an honour to lead them.” Current NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said: “On behalf of all chiefs, I extend my warm congratulations to the NPCC’S first chair, Sara Thornton, who has received a DBE for her services to policing.
“She has dedicated her career to public service and provided strong leadership during a time of change for our profession.” Outgoing Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable George Hamilton is knighted, while Durham Police Chief Constable Mike Barton, who has been an outspoken critic of national drugs policy, is awarded a CBE following the announcement of his retirement earlier this year.