Fred Goodwin Loses Knighthood

[TimberWolf]

Big deal, he's had a discredited gong taken away. He's laughing all the way to the bank.

[EternalOptimist]

Why not have a new gong for sirs, but spelled with a 'c'


then we wont have to hang them, as they will feel the full wrath of our displeasure


jeez. this cider's strong

[NickFitz]

An interesting blog post on the subject from Heresy Corner:

So Fred Goodwin has "brought the honours system into disrepute". How, exactly? He didn't award himself the knighthood that has today been withdrawn. He merely accepted it. He may well have brought himself into disrepute, by his graceless behaviour as much as by his reckless management of the Royal Bank of Scotland. He certainly brought the banking industry into disrepute, as of course did many others of its leading lights, some of whom still have their knighthoods and other gongs. He is responsible for his behaviour. He is not responsible for the honours system. The only people who may truly be said to have brought the system into disrepute as a result of Goodwin's business dealings are those who recommended and confirmed the award in the first place.

[AtW]

He is responsible for his behaviour.

Having an Hounour that is very visible (Sir in front of his name) means that his behavior will attract attention to said honour and when he was awarded precisely for what he (in my view) failed in utterly that makes mockery of the award.

Perhaps they should have a rule like at (allegedly) Intel - lowest 10% of carriers of the honour lose it every year.

[BrilloPad]

Very extreme reaction in the telegraph. It's official: Britain is closed for business – Telegraph Blogs . But JW makes one good point :-

"where were all the politicians who now sanctimoniously call for his head on a plate at the time when all the mischief was going on? Cheering him on from the sidelines, that's where."

Personally I hope his pension is now taken away. And that the Labour party will now apologize for wrecking the UK.

[gingerjedi]

Very extreme reaction in the telegraph. It's official: Britain is closed for business – Telegraph Blogs . But JW makes one good point :-

"where were all the politicians who now sanctimoniously call for his head on a plate at the time when all the mischief was going on? Cheering him on from the sidelines, that's where."

Whilst dipping their snouts in the public trough.

[BrilloPad]

Whilst dipping their snouts in the public trough.

And then they wonder why this country is full of chavs. MPs must set a good example.

[bobspud]

I think the bigger scandal was how the bastid got it in the first place. Any ideas anyone ?

Yes. He did a fantastic job in the prevailing conditions and was Gordon Browns best mate.

[shaunbhoy]

So Fred Goodwin has "brought the honours system into disrepute".

Been happening for years anyway. SIR Oswald Ernald Mosley anyone?

[scooterscot]

He won his knighthood for services to banking
And he lost it for his disservices to banking.

If an accountant commits a fraud and gets away with it for five years he can be brought to book and struck off/prosecuted ten years later so why not Fred Goodwin be stripped of his knighthood?

Not defending what happened under his watch. But what crime did he commit?

He is the first individual to loose a knighthood whilst to be without criminal conviction.

Did the Mob suddenly takeover government?