KNIGHTHOOD MAY BE STRIPPED

THE secretive committee which polices the honours system could investigate stripping Jimmy Savile of his knighthood, the Culture Secretary said yesterday.

Maria Miller told MPs that the question of his knighthood was ‘something for the honours forfeiture committee’.

MPs repeatedly urged the Government to strip Savile of his knighthood as a mark of respect for his victims. Mrs Miller initially stuck to the official government line, saying: ‘Knighthoods cease on the death of an individual so that is not a path that can be taken.’

But Tory MP Andrew Stephenson told Mrs Miller it was not good enough to rule it out simply because there was no precedent. He said: ‘Will she consider raising with the honours forfeiture committee the question of looking at posthumously stripping Jimmy Savile of his knighthood and OBE.’

Mrs Miller replied: ‘That is something for the forfeiture committee and I am sure they will have heard his comments.’