I argued in the Western Mail today that a Welsh honours system must give proper recognition to public workers like carers, nurses and teachers. I think that trade unions and other organisations representing working people should be involved in awarding the honours. A Welsh system must not copy the existing London-based honours - I'll only support a Welsh honours system that is very different from the existing London one. I think that we should honour public sector workers who go the extra mile over and above the call of duty. We cannot have an elitist system.
If we are to have an honours system in Wales, let’s have one owned by the people of Wales rather than the establishment. One way to avoid having the establishment in control would be to allow the trade unions and ordinary people to decide on who receive the awards.
