Our honours system is outdated, as has been said many times it seems to be those with power and influence simply patting themselves on the back. Many people spend all their lives devoting time and energy to others - above and beyond simply doing their job - but receive no recognition. At the very least the names of the awards should be changed to reflect where we are - without reference to British Empire.

I firmly believe that we need to make 16 the age at which a young person effectively is able to partake in all “adult” activities. This would include voting and drinking in pubs. It seems stupid to have differing ages for differing things - 16 for some, 17 for others and 18 for yet other things. 16 seems to be a sensible time - given that people of this age are able to leave school, work, get married and have children. Let’s treat them then as mature enough to handle voting at this age!!

Currently I feel youngsters are being victimised - because of the bad behaviour of a minority it appears that the well behaved majority are to be penalised.