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Anger at knighthood for ‘brave’ Ted Kennedy
Nicholas Cecil and Joe Murphy04.03.09
Gordon Brown sparked a backlash today by awarding an honorary knighthood to veteran US senator Ted Kennedy.
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.
Reader views (20)
The great tragedy is not whether recognition was deserved - as most certainly was - it is that he would accept such a discredited 'honour'.
- John, Dublin, Ireland
".....knighted Robert Mugabe, Allen Stanford, Fred Goodwin, Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Cliff Richard"
Some of these were deserved, some not. Some have vague justification. At least one was a blatantly political travesty (Mugabe).
The time to spot an error is before it is made though, not least of all when it is designed to curry favour rather than award virtue.
- Rogan, Irving
I agree with the previous comments--this award is an insult to true peacemakers and far more worthy candidates, and many of us here in the U.S. are in total disagreement as well.
- Pam, Michigan, USA
What a smashing sense of humor our British friends continue to demonstrate.. to actually bestow Knighthood on the likes of the infamous Ted Kennedy.. Knowing Kennedy as we do.. Just the notion of "Sir Teddy" of Camelot, has sparked many witty "bust a gut" jokes on American blogs, etc.. Thanks Y'all...
- Jj, America, USA
I agree that Kennedy should get an honorary knigthood. Just look at the 'unworthy' people who are showered with knighthoods. Also, if a football manager can get a knighthood, then why not Kennedy, who has probably done more to deserve it.
- Mark Wright, Milan, Italy
I second Anthony's comment. Why does the article not mention the infamous crash at Chappaquiddick that killed Mary Jo Kopechne? It is blatant pro-Kennedy bias to omit mention of that incident.
- Jason, USA
This is all rather unhelpful, and unduly picky.
Having knighted Robert Mugabe, Allen Stanford, Fred Goodwin, Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Cliff Richard, surely we can run to an almost-dead Kennedy?
And anyway, isn't Keith Vaz in the queue ahead of Sir Mu'ammar al-Qadafi?
- Andrew, London
If he accepts the honour from Her Majesty he is either a hypocrite or he and his family have really turned the corner.
Are not General de Chastelain and George Mitchell more worthy?
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil
And what about JFK, do you include him in your vitriol and spite against the Kennedy family? Remember the Bay of Pigs and the courage he showed standing up to Communism. It is the Queen who decides ultimately on who should or should not receive a knighthood, not the Prime Minister.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
I'm an American and even I am perplexed over this turn of events.
- Dylan, NYC, USA
I remember the tv pictures of ted kennedy telling a british soldier in northern ireland that he should go back to his own country and the soldier retorting that he was already in it and TK should go back to his.
Yet another prime minister willing to do anything to get a pat on the head from a president.Pathetic.
g brown,london
- G Brown, london
Kennedy was a brave Irish-American and deserves our respect and accolades for always speaking the truth and opposing the British imperial state and its army when it was right to do so
- Keith Price, Luton, England
This is a disgrace,what is going on with you England.
- Keith, South Carolina,USA
A bridge too far.
- Fred, Horsham
Once again this tricksy government hands out honours in the most dubious of circumstances. Why Ted Kennedy? What has he ever done for the UK? Or for the US for that matter? How many innocent people died in the Irish troubles because this dreadful, bloated plutocrat encouraged the Irish nationalists and their fund raisers in Boston and New York?
- Ricky, Hackney, London
Is Brown serious? How about being a bit more honest and making it for "services to honesty and integrity following a fatal car crash and other incidents"?
Surely Gordon could find someone better than this - how about George Mitchell?
Final question - has G Brown ever stayed at or visited the Kennedy family "compound"?
- David, Aylesbury, England
What a disgrace to honour this man. His father was anti-British and a bootlegger during Prohibition and the man himself was a coward who left a young girl to drown after crashing his car into a river whilst drunk. Par for the course for this government though, how long before we give Gaddafi a knighthood?
- Masher, harrow
Forget it Gordon. Honours are not sweeties you can hand around.
- John Smith, London , England
the kennedys did nothing for Britain, from their father in the war down to support for the IRA. Forget Browns ideas the answer is NO to any reward to the Kennedys.
- John Wright, East Halton. U.K.
Let us not forget the tragedy of " Mary Joe "
- Anthony Mansell, England
