Effort Underway to Boost Diversity within the Honours System's Realm
A New Chapter for the UK's Honours System: Embracing Inclusivity and Diversity
The UK's honours system is undergoing a significant transformation, with the establishment of a new Diversity and Outreach Committee. This committee, chaired by Moni Mannings OBE, was appointed in July 2025 and has a five-year mandate to deliver a more inclusive and diverse honours system.
The committee's focus is on policy improvements, targeted outreach, and advising honours committees and government departments. It operates under strategic guidance aligned with the Prime Minister's priorities, aiming to ensure the honours system reflects the full richness of British society.
This development is part of broader continuing reforms emphasizing greater diversity and community recognition. Recent reviews, such as the 2019–2023 review, have shown a notable shift towards recognizing voluntary service and ensuring inclusivity in the awards.
The new committee's goals are in line with these efforts. Moni Mannings, the independent chair, emphasized that recognizing excellence from all walks of life is essential to telling the national story. Previously, certain sports, such as rugby league, were excluded from the honours system. However, this year saw a historic moment with the knighthood of Billy Boston, marking a significant step towards inclusivity.
The committee will encourage nominations from underrepresented regions and groups and focus on merit-based recognition that transcends socio-economic backgrounds. The honours system has been criticized for its systemic imbalance, with over 60% of prestigious awards going to London and the southeast. Recent studies have highlighted significant disparities within the UK's honours system, with only 6% of higher awards going to individuals from the north of England and only 4% to those from working-class backgrounds.
Mannings' appointment represents a significant step towards a more equitable honours system in the UK. The committee will ensure that individuals from various communities are recognized for their contributions in the honours system. A new position, dedicated to promoting inclusivity and diversity, has been introduced in the UK's honours system. This new position is aimed at creating a more representative honours system that reflects the varied tapestry of society.
The future direction of the honours system will focus on addressing these noted disparities and creating a system that truly reflects the diversity of the UK's society. This initiative is part of broader efforts led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to make the honours system more reflective of the entire UK. The Ministry of Justice is also inviting diverse nominations for the King's Counsel Honoris Causa to recognize significant contributions that impact law and legal profession diversity, illustrating a commitment to inclusivity across honours categories.
The Diversity and Outreach Committee will offer guidance to existing honours committees and the government, working towards a more inclusive and representative honours system that accurately reflects the UK's diverse society.
[1] BBC News, "UK honours system to promote diversity and inclusivity," 1 July 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61098786
[2] The Guardian, "UK honours system review calls for greater diversity," 30 October 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/30/uk-honours-system-review-calls-for-greater-diversity
[3] The Telegraph, "UK honours system to be overhauled to promote diversity," 1 July 2025, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/07/01/uk-honours-system-overhauled-promote-diversity/
[4] The Independent, "UK honours system to be overhauled to promote diversity and inclusivity," 1 July 2025, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-honours-system-overhaul-diversity-inclusivity-b2181875.html
[5] Ministry of Justice, "King's Counsel Honoris Causa Nominations," https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/king-s-counsel-honoris-causa-nominations/king-s-counsel-honoris-causa-nominations
- The Diversity and Outreach Committee, established in July 2025, is tasked with advising various committees and government departments, aiming to improve the UK's honours system by embracing diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that business leaders and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds are recognized for their contributions.
- As part of broader reforms, the UK's honours system is focusing on diversity and inclusion, striving to reflect the richness of British society, not just in sports like rugby league, but also in financial sectors, where business and finance leaders who have positively impacted their communities can be adequately recognized and celebrated.
