THE New Years Honours again ignored those who work tirelessly for the common good and often the communities in which they live.

It was not unexpected that the bunch of prima donnas from the Olympic have been rewarded a second time (I exclude from that comment the paralympians who have overcome many personal and physical handicaps to aspire to and achieve success).

Athletes who spend every waking hour training do so to achieve their personal best and to break world records for a selfish need – not for the fame of their country or, in many cases, the British team.

The Olympic medals are a token of that success.

To duplicate the reward by giving them a civil honour discredits the system.

As does rewarding failure. A fine example of that is Bernard Hogan-Howe, the current Commissioner of Police for the Met, who came down so strongly against Andrew Mitchell in the early stages of “plebgate”.

He has now been seen to have presided over a system which attempted to destroy a cabinet minister.

The honours system also shows rank hypocrisy. I refer to Cherie Booth (Blair) who has accepted (with delight if reports are correct) her CBE after years of insult and blatant rudeness to the royal family.

I’m sure she will request a postal delivery rather than a visit to the palace.

The system is now so discredited it should be returned to those from the military and diplomatic service who work for the country’s good and not that of themselves.

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me.