Admittedly, the current focus on Fred Goodwin's ex-honour appears to be a cynical political distraction from matters of real general concern, but he was given his knight batchelorhood, I understand, for 'services to banking' and in the light of what has since transpired, and the FSA report, no-one can seriously argue that he deserves any distinction much greater than the 'been there, done that' tee shirt.
He has the consolation of retaining (at least for the time being) his honorary degree at the University of St Andrews.
There is, in recent reaction, the unmistakeable sound of the closing of ranks, like that of the sound of the old fashioned cinema seats going up as everyone rises to escape before the credits roll.
The real answer might be to abolish the whole rotten system of state honours which our erstwhile prime minister tried to prop up by admitting a sprinkling of lollipop ladies to its ranks (lower of course).
