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Gongs galore: the New Year’s Honours List

Tony Blair (Photo: Getty Images)

It’s that time of year again. As sure as ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and Sadiq’s fireworks farce, poring over the names of the newly-published Honours List is a time-honoured custom on New Year’s Day. Mr S got his embargoed copy and is delighted to regale his readers with news of the big-hitters collecting gongs in 2022. Tennis champ Emma Raducanu does indeed become the youngest MBE recipient ever, following her US Open triumph, with Olympian power couple Laura and Jason Kenny getting a damehood and knighthood apiece. Adam Peaty and Tom Daley receive OBEs for raising awareness of mental health and LGBT issues respectively as well as their gold medal winning achievements at Tokyo 2020.

As predicted by Mr S, there’s honours aplenty for those involved in Britain’s Covid campaign. Both Jonathan Van Tam and Chris Whitty get knighthoods while Jenny Harries receives a damehood, despite her numerous blunders.

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