The traditional New Year Honours list has brought recognition for SIX Liberal Democrats.

Hina Bokhari AM is on her second term as a London Assembly Member. She has a great record within the party for campaigning on diversity and inclusion. Her OBE is given for “services to young People, to charity and to inter-faith relations.” Now is a good time to remind you of the articles she has written for us over the years which are full of tips for bringing people together and encouraging understanding.

Janet Grauberg is a Lib Dem campaigner in Camden. She lost by only 38 votes in West Hampstead in 2022.   She also has a long career in education and has been given her OBE for “for services to the community in North London and to education.”

Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe has represented his community on Powys Council since he was 21 years old. He gets an MBE in recognition of his “charitable Services to Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).” Gareth talked to the Powys County Times about how he found uut:

I was deeply touched to receive it,” said Cllr Ratcliffe. “It came on my birthday a letter arrived, my boy rang me and he said there is a letter from the cabinet office.

I chaired the national park authority through the change of chief executive and also through the pandemic.

He talked about his long  public service:

I decided to follow my mum and dad who was an old borough councillor in the 1980 so I decided to stand on the town council in Hay at 21,” he added.

I was Mayor of Hay at the age of 23 and was mayor when we twinned with Timbuktu and signed the twinning documents.

In 2008 I thought I would stand for county council and just give it a go, to get some experience not expecting anything and I won.”

What Jeremy Hargreaves doesn’t know about Lib Dem policy is not worth knowing. He’s been part of the backbone of the party for years, serving on the Federal Policy Committee and Federal Executive and Board.  He has written for us on many occasions over the years.  He gets an MBE for political service.

Finally, Stephen Gosling, chair of the Lib Dem Business Network, gets a CBE for for “services to business, to politics and to democratic engagement.” He is on the Board of Unlock Democracy and wrote this about his views on improving our democracy :

British companies must adhere to rules of governance to minimise exploitation of workers and customers but their government need not. A British citizen who steals a car will rightly go to jail, a British Prime Minister who steals a power from Parliament gets no such consequence. A British board room is obligated to act collaboratively to achieve the best results for shareholders or members while a British government will sack any minister who dares to disagree.

That’s why I’m involved in Unlock Democracy. We desperately need a better system, and that’s why I’m here.

I should also mention that the many Lib Dems who are Doctor Who fans will be rejoicing that, at the age of 90, Tom Baker has finally been recognised, with an MBE, for services to television.  He was my Doctor. His debut was one of the very first episodes I watched as a 7 year old.  I chuckled this morning at  the observation of a fellow Lib Dem that “he ought to have a peerage given that he’s a Lord Temporal.” If only.

If there are any we’ve missed, please let us know in the comments and we’ll add them in.

Late addition:
Cllr Mohammad Fayyaz, a Chesham town councillor and Buckinghamshire unitary councillor was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Chesham community. He has been a councillor for over 25 years and has taken on many leadership roles in the local community.