The Spectator

Which prime ministers have faced the longest wait for honours?

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issue 08 January 2022

Waiting for the gong

Tony Blair was knighted, 14 years after leaving Downing Street. How long have other ex-PMs had to wait to be honoured?

Edward Heath knighted in 1992, 18 years after leaving office.

Harold Wilson awarded peerage on leaving Commons in 1983, 7 years after resigning as PM.

Jim Callaghan awarded peerage on leaving House of Commons in 1987, 8 years after leaving office.

Margaret Thatcher awarded peerage in 1992 on leaving House of Commons.

John Major knighted in 2005, 8 years after leaving office. Said to have rejected peerage on leaving Commons in 2001.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Theresa May are still waiting.

Unjabbed nations

How have the world’s least-vaccinated countries fared in terms of Covid deaths?

Doses per 100  –  Country  –  Deaths per million

0.1 Burundi 3

0.1 Congo 65

1 Haiti 66

2 Chad 11

2 Yemen 65

2 South Sudan 12

2 Niger 11

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