A question of honour...

Jim Speechley, former Tory Leader of Lincolnshire County Council was stripped of his CBE honour after he was jailed for abuse of office.

Absolutely right that the shamed ex-Crowland councillor can no longer claim to be a Commander of the Order of the British Empire...

I've just heard Channel Four News announce that the Government has begun the first steps to strip Robert Mugabe of the knighthood bestowed on him by Tory Prime Minister John Major for his 'significant contribution to Zimbabwe's relationship with Britain'.

About time too.

(Can't find a link on the internet yet, but here's Reuters report on Mugabe's 'obscene' appearance at an international conference in Rome today...)

But why oh why is former Lincolnshire Tory MP 'Baron' Jeffrey Archer of Weston-Super-Mare still officially a Lord, despite being sent to jail for four years in disgrace for perjury and conspiracy...?

Any ideas...?

Tory Boris backs Conrad the Crook

No surprise to see Boris Johnson backing convicted crook and Tory peer Lord Conrad Black. The former media tycoon was told by a Judge today that he faces eight years in jail when he is sentenced for multi-million pound fraud.

Boris, Tory hopeful in next year's elections for London Mayor, apparently provided Lord Black with a character reference.

Labour MP Karen Buck has lodged an early day motion questioning Boris's judgement in backing someone convicted of stealing on such a massive scale.

You can read Karen's EDM HERE.

There's also this live blog with a blow by blow commentary as the sentencing drama unfolds...

Meanwhile, look out for Boris backing other jail-birds such as former Tory high-flier Jonathan Aitkin, former Tory Leader in Lincolnshire 'Honest' Jim Speechley...or maybe even Boris's predessessor as Tory candidate for London...

Yes, step forward the one and only 'Lord' Jeffrey Archer.

UPDATE: C4 News says the Chicago court has sentenced Black to six-and-a-half years in prison...while the BBC asks "Did he get off lightly?"