So Sir Fred of Shred might not be 'Sir' for much longer but why the wait? It seems like one of the longest falls from grace in history but then again it's no real surprise. The modern society in which we live allows for all sorts of injunctions to be put in place stopping the truth coming out in any detail for years.
Rogues gallery
If the Black Knight is stripped of his honour, however, he will join an illustrious group of people who have suffered a similar indignity. Robert Mugabe for instance was once considered respectable and statesman-like enough to be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He was also given an honorary degree for 'services to education in Africa' by Edinburgh University, but he can no longer put that on his CV either.
Anthony Blunt too had to hand his baubles back after the surveyor of the Queen's pictures was revealed as a traitor who spied for the Russians. As for other city grandees, who can forget the slap on the wrist Jack Lyons received for helping drive up the value of Guinness shares back in the 1980's?
Knockdown Knighthood Sir?
The honours system in the UK is a bit of a mystery, it must be said. The scandal of people paying for them is of course old news, but who gets what and why is still no clearer than a Fred Goodwin cashflow forecast to the ordinary guy in the street.
There are some interesting comparisons when you look back over the years. Fred's own gong came for services to banking after being CEO of RBS for only three years. Bruce Forsyth on the other hand made his television debut in 1939 and fronted a host of top rated prime-time TV entertainment shows for over 50 years before being asked to kneel at the age of 83.
You can't always get what you want
Love him or loathe him, you have to admit that's a long time, and even then it only came after years of newspaper campaigns and an Early Day motion signed in parliament by over 70 MP's calling for him to be honoured.
Even Mick Jagger beat Brucie to the prize, and here is a man that was arrested for possession of drugs in the 60's and along with "Keef" was presented to the nation by the authorities as a seriously dangerous influence on youth. An element of tax avoidance in the 70's when the Stones decamped to the south of France was also conveniently forgotten but hey, that's rock 'n' roll.
The Queen's gift
To be considered for a Queen's honour certain criteria have to be met and according to the website Awards Intelligence, a nominee must "have brought distinction to British life and enhanced its reputation". Conversely one must assume that if you bring disgrace to British life and dent its reputation then decisions can be reversed.
Another interesting consideration for the honours committee is "has the nominee carried the respect of their peers"? In the case of Fred that represents a rather moot point.
In an interview for BBC Scotland in October 2011 as part of a documentary called "The Bank That Ran Out Of Money", ex-RBS employee Cameron McPhail hints that this might not have been the case.
He recalled the first time he was made aware that Fred Goodwin was joining them from Clydesdale Bank was when a member of that bank's board telephoned to wish RBS luck with their new employee.
It's not clear whether Mr McPhail could actually hear the clinking of glasses over the telephone but the party held to celebrate the fact that Fred had gone apparently went on for three days!
Where's the body though?
Wherever you stand on the issue of Fred's Knighthood, it does highlight the fact that the UK honours system is difficult to understand.
Poor decisions and an autocratic management style are not illegal however the outcome of those decisions has had a detrimental effect on the lives of thousands of ordinary people. Those very people would no doubt vote yes to a motion calling for Fred's medal to be ceremoniously ripped from his chest on the steps of the Stock Exchange.
Perjury and perverting the course of justice however are illegal and punishable with a prison sentence. Jeffrey Archer served two years in prison for both counts but remains Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare. Even the MCC revoked his membership for seven years so quite a few of the nation's crusty old boys must have thought he was a bad egg even if his fellow Peers didn't.
A spotty spectre
In the final analysis Fred Goodwin might not be a Knight of the Realm for much longer but it is unlikely to cost him hard cash so does he really care? We on the other hand should remain on our guard.
In a perverse recurring dream I keep seeing Fred being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer of a newly independent Scotland. And if what they say about leopards is true a bid to buy England would probably not be long in coming.
Sources
- awardsintelligence.co.uk - accessed Monday 23rd January 2012
- BBC Scotland - The Bank That Ran Out of Money - screened 17th October 2011
- bbc.co.uk accessed Monday 23rd January 2012
