Fred Goodwin Stripped of Knighthood
By TSF at January 31, 2012 | 5:35 pm | Print
The Cabinet Office have announced that Fred Goodwin, formally Sir Fred Goodwin who served as the Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland during the banking crisis has been stripped of his Knighthood. The news has been welcomed by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. However could this start a precedent whereby those bankers and others who currently have honours are stripped of their honour for their part in crimes and the banking crisis? One would hope so.
The recommendation was passed to the Prime Minister who then recommended to the Queen that Fred Goodwin should have his Knighthood cancelled and annulled.
However, this needs to be extended to the House of Lords, where a number of Peers such as Lord Archer who have committed crimes and have served time in prison are still entitled to use the title ‘Lord’. There needs to be legislation whereby a Peerage can be revoked rather than simply suspending a member of the House of Lords. Not only would this be welcomed by the public but it would reduce the number of Peers.
