Anger at knighthood for ‘brave’ Ted Kennedy

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The honour for the 77-year-old brother of assassinated president John F Kennedy was agreed by the Queen in recognition of his services to British-American relations and to Northern Ireland.

Senator Kennedy, who is seriously ill with brain cancer, became an influential figure in the Northern Ireland peace process through his ability to swing Irish-American opinion as figurehead of the Kennedy clan.

Mr Brown was due to heap praise on Senator Kennedy in his speech to Congress.

The draft words of his speech said: "Northern Ireland is today at peace, more Americans have health care, more children around the world are going to school, and for all those things we owe a great debt to the life and courage of Senator Edward Kennedy."

However, in Westminster MPs criticised the decision given Mr Kennedy's close links to the Republican movement.

"I have to question the appropriateness of the award," said Tory Michael Ancram, who served as a junior minister in Ulster. He added: "I was surprised because those who really helped in Northern Ireland, like George Mitchell, made it clear they worked for both parts of the community whereas Ted Kennedy visibly supported one part, the Republican movement."

However, a Democratic Unionist Party spokesman said: "How times have changed. One of the great champions of Irish nationalism on Capitol Hill receiving an honorary knighthood."

A senator for 46 years, his life has been dominated by tragedies, particularly the assassinations of his older brothers, JFK and Robert. He himself was almost killed in a plane crash in 1964 that left him with permanent back pain.