PM targets unsung heroes in revamp of honours

Published on Wednesday 25 July 2007 00:12

GORDON Brown plans to honour more unsung heroes, like those who helped thwart the Glasgow Airport terror strike, in a bid to leave the cash-for-honours row in the past.

Signalling plans to overhaul the tarnished system, the Prime Minister said volunteers should make up "a significant majority" of the honours list - including those involved in emergency responses to the current floods causing misery across Britain and the foiled terrorist attacks.

He also announced plans for a national day to celebrate volunteering and "social change" on 24 July. The date was chosen to reflect the 24/7 nature of the work of those it will recognise.

Launching his book, Britain's Ordinary Heroes, at Westminster, Mr Brown said: "In this spirit of recognising and celebrating service to local communities and our whole country, it is right that we look at how our honours system can recognise those in our emergency services and members of the public who showed such bravery and heroism in the face of the recent terrorist attacks, and those who have worked in the last few weeks far beyond the call of duty in the recent floods."

Mr Brown will donate the proceeds from the sale of the book to charity.

His remarks came as MPs confirmed that they would resume their investigation into the cash-for-honours allegations.

The public administration committee will call Assistant Commissioner John Yates, the Scotland Yard detective who led the police inquiry into the allegations, to give evidence.

MPs will resume their inquiry - suspended when the police were called in last year - following the summer recess.