Our revelation that the last Dambusters hero, who risked his life to keep Europe from Hitler’s tyranny, was denied a gong surely blows the honours system apart
It's gong wrong
OUR honours system was already crumbling. The Sun’s revelation about the last Dambusters hero has surely blown it apart.
Consider this: the man in charge of the foreign aid fiasco is knighted. So is the Downing Street spin doctor who retched in the street over his Brexit defeat.
But George “Johnny” Johnson, who risked his life to keep Europe from Hitler’s tyranny and later raised a fortune for charity, is turned down for any gong.
All he has is his Distinguished Flying Medal awarded 73 years ago.
Theresa May blames the honours debacle on her predecessor David Cameron. But it falls to her to ensure the system is completely reinvented.
Year after year Britain is left sickened by national honours being dished out like sweets to political cronies and pals.
It must never happen again.
Instead, real heroes like Johnny must get the recognition they deserve.
Bold on Brexit
BRITAIN would be crazy to rule out playing perhaps our strongest card, our security services and military strength, in the Brexit negotiations.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd is reportedly against using them as a bargaining chip. If so, that is madness.
So far the EU has been all aggression. It aims to punish Britain, and deter others from leaving. Brexit MPs reckon that’s a bluff, that it will soften up in the end.
But we cannot assume that.
Let’s take Brussels’ belligerent bureaucrats at their word — and be unafraid to deploy OUR greatest strengths. Such as being Europe’s major Nato power, with its best intelligence services.
We must be ready too to hold detailed talks on trade deals outside the EU, especially with America, the moment we trigger Article 50.
Eurocrats are not minded to be generous. Our politicians need to stand up for Britain unflinchingly and with granite resolve.
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Unfare system
EXPECT the usual talk of renationalising the railways today as millions returning to work are stung by higher fares.
It is true that tickets were once far cheaper and are scandalously pricey now.
But British Rail was often a disgraceful shambles held to ransom by the unions. Look at Southern Rail for a current reminder.
For all their flaws, especially commuters’ peak-time misery, trains today are far cleaner and more punctual. The truth is they have not been privatised enough.
The current operators are largely regional monopolies not exposed to competition that would drive standards up and prices down.
Breaking them up and letting two or more firms operate on the same line would be truly transformative.
It cannot happen soon enough.