Having a little chat

In the Spectator diary, Max Hastings reminds us that there is some attempt to be even-handed about the dishing out of honours in this country. (This does not explain the delay in knighting Bruce Forsyth. The only explanation must be that he's pulling out of 2011 Strictly, and will form the centrepiece of the Birthday honours).

Max submitted himself to one of those "conversations" that is really an interview. And anyone who's been interviewed by Jenny Abramsky can testify to the stress of the experience. So Max has told all, thus..


When recently asked if I would serve on the arts and media honours scrutiny committee, the Cabinet Office invited me to meet the committee’s grand panjandrums, Jenny Abramsky and the inevitable Dennis Stevenson. The encounter went pleasantly enough until they asked what I thought of Salman Rushdie’s knighthood. I responded that it seemed idiotic. ‘But don’t you believe in rewarding excellence?’ cried Dame Jenny in anguish. Yes, I said, but only if the recipient offers at least lip service to Britain, as Rushdie had not. After failing this litmus test, I idly mentioned the satirical political correctness of the National Heritage Lottery Fund’s application form, before remembering that the Dame chairs it. It was no surprise afterwards to receive a courteous little note from Lord Stevenson, saying that my services would not be required; the latest New Year Honours are unscrutinised by me. But why waste an afternoon of their time and mine, when we knew each other already? It seemed silly, gesture Nolanism.

The question is: who did Dame Jenny and her sidekick/chairman turn to next for a chat ? Current non-civil service members of the committee are John Gross, author and former theatre critic of The Sunday Telegraph; Ben Okri OBE, novelist and poet and Sir Peter Stothard, Editor of The Times Literary Supplement. Max would have certainly added some fun.