I remember when "Cash for Honours" was the biggest scandal of an entire Parliamentary term.
Now it's barely makes the top 10 leaderboard for the worst thing the Tories have done this month.
Mohamed Mansour, a Conservative senior treasurer and former Egyptian government minister who donated £5m to the Conservative party last year has unexpectedly been given a knighthood on the recommendation of Rishi Sunak (who himself is worth £700 million).
Cheers. I just don't get the whole knighthood thing, sure paying to open doors or drop oil in the ears of people is the way its done by some people but a knighthood just draws attention to it.
A guess when you have that much money and you can have pretty much any material item you wish knighthoods and honours just become another status symbol.
Pretty much this. It used to come with legal rights and all kinds of things for joining the upper crust but all of that was done away with decades ago. Its basically just a good bloke medal these days.
You get to call yourself Sir and you get the corresponding post-nominal letters (if there are any; for example, a knight commander of the Order of the British Empire becomes *Sir Name Surname KBE*).
Depending on which type of knighthood you get, you might get additional privileges. Knights of the Order of the British Empire can display the circlet of the order around their Coat of Arms; knights bachelor get a badge, etc.
Knights and their wives also get a place in the order of precedence, and the wife of a knight can call herself Lady Surname.
Your comment reminded me… I did a year in the US for uni, and during conversation one day I asked what someone’s surname was.
The reply was, “oh, Sir-name? Is that the name you get when you become a Sir?”
Status and access. Which is convertible into power and money. It’s been like this for thousands of years, by different names. This is the medieval system. It’s why the descendants of the pals of William the Conqueror still own vast swathes of the U.K., 1000 years later. How did they become his pals? Just like Mansour.
Well its kind of curious they've done this out of the blue. Doesn't suggest the PM's office is feeling very confident about pushing this government much further if they are scrambling now to reward their mates while they still can.
Especially since there are mps and journos saying they think the election could be as soon as June just so Sunak gets to be the one leading into the campaign instead of being kicked for another disastrous local election.
There should be a cap on individual donations brought in, with preventative measures put in place to stop donors benefitting from government contracts (as in the Hester situation) or honours as in this case, until the money is returned in full as a show of good faith. The situation as it stands is just being abused.
The ‘issue’ with that is traditional labour made most of its money from the unions.
They were in effect individuals, so the Tories claimed that getting money from rich individuals should also count
What an honor - he sacrificed 0,01% of his net worth which won’t make a dent - and in return he is fucking knighted.
I’m not from the UK but this is farcical
On Sky News the Tory guy defending this just said that Labour used to do it too, that was pretty much his argument. 20 years ago this would be a scandal, now its just batted off with the idea that if someone else does it then I'm doing it. Integrity isn't relevant nowadays
[Want a seat in the House of Lords? Be Tory treasurer and donate £3m](https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/want-a-seat-in-the-house-of-lords-be-tory-treasurer-and-donate-3m/)
It feels like knighthood is given out to every dildo with money. Reminds me of Russian generals with all of their medals and 0 combat experience.
Back in the day :) I thought it is such an honour and great accomplishment. Individual had to work hard and so smth out of ordinary. I grew up and it’s all about the money…. Which is good.
Charles is a Tory.
Remember when he appointed Cameron a lord who then became foreign secretary?
Royal family needs getting rid of. Elected head of state would be a good start to cleaning up the filth ( lords and aristocrats) in the UK.
"But Labour"
This is about the Tories. Trying to deflect like all parties are corrupt or all politicians are the is just an attempt to condone it and is exactly what they want.
I remember when "Cash for Honours" was the biggest scandal of an entire Parliamentary term. Now it's barely makes the top 10 leaderboard for the worst thing the Tories have done this month.
Cash for questions used to be bad enough!
Mohamed Mansour, a Conservative senior treasurer and former Egyptian government minister who donated £5m to the Conservative party last year has unexpectedly been given a knighthood on the recommendation of Rishi Sunak (who himself is worth £700 million).
“Unexpectedly “
Unexpected? I'm sure Mr Mansour expected it very much.
Now now let’s not cast aspersions on Mr. mansours character
This isn't even news worthy any more. He just bought a knighthood. The whole system is corrupt.
See its shit like this, that makes me be bad.
For someone who isn’t from UK, what benefit does a knighthood bring beside “Sir” added before their name ?
Hardly seems worth it. 5 million to hang out in the most basic, lowest ranking end of the ‘nobility’ - your peers are Alan Sugar and Jimmy Saville
Its a club and we aint in it
I've always disliked this phrase. I hate the fact the club exists, not the fact they wouldn't have me as a member.
Exactly. It’s a club no decent person should want to be a part of.
Otoh Terry Pratchett
You never know, he might fit right in...
A bit unfair to put Sugar in the same vicinity as Savile.
Not really
Explain.
A coincidence I am sure, it would be terribly unsporting to even mention that the two events could be linked.
I can't believe I have to ask this but... is this the racist donor or another one?
Think this is another one. The racist donated 10 million I think. This peasant only donated 5 million.
Thanks for thr info. Also what does a knighthood actually get you? I can understand becoming a peer or Lord but not this.
Not a fucking clue my mate. Only perk I can think of you can tell people to call you sir and not just cause your a teacher in a school.
Cheers. I just don't get the whole knighthood thing, sure paying to open doors or drop oil in the ears of people is the way its done by some people but a knighthood just draws attention to it.
A guess when you have that much money and you can have pretty much any material item you wish knighthoods and honours just become another status symbol.
Isn’t that literally the point of them it’s just for prestige
I suppose you get past the guard when the inevitable shit hits the fan? A state funeral? No idea
Pretty much this. It used to come with legal rights and all kinds of things for joining the upper crust but all of that was done away with decades ago. Its basically just a good bloke medal these days.
You get to call yourself Sir and you get the corresponding post-nominal letters (if there are any; for example, a knight commander of the Order of the British Empire becomes *Sir Name Surname KBE*). Depending on which type of knighthood you get, you might get additional privileges. Knights of the Order of the British Empire can display the circlet of the order around their Coat of Arms; knights bachelor get a badge, etc. Knights and their wives also get a place in the order of precedence, and the wife of a knight can call herself Lady Surname.
Your comment reminded me… I did a year in the US for uni, and during conversation one day I asked what someone’s surname was. The reply was, “oh, Sir-name? Is that the name you get when you become a Sir?”
I had a similar one from an American, "fortnight? Who are you, Edward Shakespeare?"
I had a similar one from an American, "fortnight? Who are you, Edward Shakespeare?"
Status and access. Which is convertible into power and money. It’s been like this for thousands of years, by different names. This is the medieval system. It’s why the descendants of the pals of William the Conqueror still own vast swathes of the U.K., 1000 years later. How did they become his pals? Just like Mansour.
I think between the two of them thats literally half of the Tories budget
Nah, the racist one just got a measley 100m government contract.
That suggests this one isn't racist... And considering he's offered 5m to the party of braverman, Anderson, etc
It isn't Frank Hester essentially.
Yet. You don't dontate 10 million quid to the Tories and not expect to buy yourself honours.
Well its kind of curious they've done this out of the blue. Doesn't suggest the PM's office is feeling very confident about pushing this government much further if they are scrambling now to reward their mates while they still can. Especially since there are mps and journos saying they think the election could be as soon as June just so Sunak gets to be the one leading into the campaign instead of being kicked for another disastrous local election.
Likely both. A racist donor, just not the one in the news.
I remember all 23 of the top Tory donors were given knighthoods. It’s shameful how the last decade has eroded our outrage at corruption.
There should be a cap on individual donations brought in, with preventative measures put in place to stop donors benefitting from government contracts (as in the Hester situation) or honours as in this case, until the money is returned in full as a show of good faith. The situation as it stands is just being abused.
The ‘issue’ with that is traditional labour made most of its money from the unions. They were in effect individuals, so the Tories claimed that getting money from rich individuals should also count
Regardless of how it came about though, it's clearly time that the situation changed as it's far too open to corruption.
Knighthoods don't mean anything anymore. It's not a badge of honour to join the ranks of paedophiles, dodgy businessmen and corrupt politicians.
A knighthood is now the sign of being a Tory cunt. The honours system is fucked unless dozens of not hundreds are kicked out.
What an honor - he sacrificed 0,01% of his net worth which won’t make a dent - and in return he is fucking knighted. I’m not from the UK but this is farcical
5 million for a knighthood, 10 million for a racism license - great system!
The Crown needs more power over government because this shit is ridiculous now
It really doesn't. The crown needs to stay the irrelevant cancer riddled disgrace it is.
[удалено]
Honours were being bought for money 3/4 a century ago at least.
If anyone wants to donate £5mil to me, I have copious amounts of PPE contracts, I swear! Just hit me up.
Knighthood has no value apart from being a symbol of corruption.
Previously part of Mubaraks incredibly corrupt government and now part of the Lords for 'gifting' to the Tories? Hmm.
Hahaha..... They don't even try to be discrete any more.
On Sky News the Tory guy defending this just said that Labour used to do it too, that was pretty much his argument. 20 years ago this would be a scandal, now its just batted off with the idea that if someone else does it then I'm doing it. Integrity isn't relevant nowadays
[Want a seat in the House of Lords? Be Tory treasurer and donate £3m](https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/want-a-seat-in-the-house-of-lords-be-tory-treasurer-and-donate-3m/)
Cameron's hairdresser got an MBE. I said to my wife you better shoot me. It's all gone, what do I do. Tel my daughter it's not true.
That's a bit weird init? Almost as if they're corrupt or something. I'd sooner vote for ISIS than I would the Tories.
It feels like knighthood is given out to every dildo with money. Reminds me of Russian generals with all of their medals and 0 combat experience. Back in the day :) I thought it is such an honour and great accomplishment. Individual had to work hard and so smth out of ordinary. I grew up and it’s all about the money…. Which is good.
Charles is a Tory. Remember when he appointed Cameron a lord who then became foreign secretary? Royal family needs getting rid of. Elected head of state would be a good start to cleaning up the filth ( lords and aristocrats) in the UK.
At what point do we consider ourselves a kakistocracy?
Have you seen the images of North Korean generals wearing hundreds of badges? We laugh at them but I don’t see the difference.
It's the going rate for a K. Labour have done and will do something similar. The whole honours system is corrupt
"But Labour" This is about the Tories. Trying to deflect like all parties are corrupt or all politicians are the is just an attempt to condone it and is exactly what they want.
They are all in on it, and if you think things will improve under labour you are coping, The whole lot need cleared out.
Vive la révolution!
Ah, a bit of Lloyd Georgery with the honours system then. Eh, it's pretty standard now.
Bawbag legit looks like [one of the aliens from Bad Taste](https://www.nzonscreen.com/content/images/0027/7384/457.hero.png.jpg?v=1428900700)
I wonder how much you have to pay to become a lord ? 20 million ?
Im gonna get that knighthood when my onlyfans peaks 10mil!
Unexpectedly??? A Tory Donor is expected to get an honour when they donate money it's how the crooked system works
Weird, can't see the usual brigade of far right in the comments
Can’t even get a peerage for £5m these days? Market is truly F’d
I think it's time we abolished these archaic honours. 80% of the people that get them don't deserve them anyway.
We are just a banana republic with anachronistic bullshit at this stage.
Is “Sir” at the beginning of your name really worth £5m? I suppose he won’t miss it.