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Honours to reward 'unsung heroes' Honours to reward 'unsung heroes'
(20 minutes later)
Reforms to the honours system will make it easier to nominate volunteers and unsung heroes, Gordon Brown has said. Reforms to the honours system will make it easier to reward volunteers and unsung heroes, Gordon Brown has said.
The prime minister, who has written a book, Britain's Everyday Heroes, said he wanted to recognise "the great work that people do" in the community.The prime minister, who has written a book, Britain's Everyday Heroes, said he wanted to recognise "the great work that people do" in the community.
He also announced plans to bring together business and voluntary sector expertise from around the world. Advertising campaigns in newspapers will encourage nominations for awards below the level of MBEs and CBEs.
A reform package for the House of Lords will be in Labour's next manifesto, the government has said. In a speech later he said he wanted to look at how a social investment bank might support charities.
There was deadlock earlier this year between MPs and Lords on whether peers should be elected or appointed. Mr Brown's book is published on Tuesday, and he said he wanted to make 24 July a day when the government and "the country as a whole" could honour those "acting for good".
Cash-for-honours 'Good society'
The 16-month cash-for-honours inquiry investigated allegations that party donors had been nominated for peerages in return for loans. "I believe it is time to celebrate the best in Britain," he said in a speech at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.
Prosecutors ruled out bringing charges against anyone - who all consistently denied wrong-doing, but it is generally accepted by politicians of all sides that reform is needed. "And by celebrating it and enhancing it, and by encouraging many more of us to participate in it, I believe we can build the good society where each of us asks what we can give and all of us can make a difference."
At a breakfast meeting with City leaders at Downing Street, Mr Brown said: "We want to reform the honours system so that we actually genuinely can say for local communities and national action that we are recognising and celebrating the great work that people do. He said the government would financially support thousands of small community projects and youth volunteering would be transformed into a national youth community service.
"I think people will be impressed by the fact that they can more easily nominate people for honours to recognise the work they do both nationally and locally for service to the communities of this country and the country itself." And he said some of London's top business leaers had agreed to use their talents and experience to strengthen the voluntary sector further, following a breakfast meeting.
He also said he wanted a "council of social leadership" and an "international forum on social leadership", to bring together expertise from the business and voluntary sectors. He has pledged to reform the honours system to make it easier to recognise contributions towards communities.
At a breakfast meeting with City leaders he said: "We want to reform the honours system so that we actually genuinely can say for local communities and national action that we are recognising and celebrating the great work that people do."