Can't have it both ways.

You may remember Vicky Pryce - she was the wife of MP Chris Huhne, and was convicted of taking speeding points for him and sentenced to eight months in prison. Several years ago she was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in recognition of her work as Head of the Government's Economic Service.  In view of her conviction, that honour has been taken from her.  I find that strange - or perhaps to me it points up the absurdity of the honours system.  She wasn't given the honour because she was a nice person - even an honest and law-abiding person - but presumably because she was a good economist and had done a good job as Head of the Department.  So does a prison sentence suddenly cease to make her a good economist, or in any way alter the value of the work she did?  It is said that she has brought the Order into disrepute, but if it is to be a pre-requisite of being given an honour that not only have you done something worth-while, but also that you are morally and ethically squeaky-clean, then future honours lists will be able to be written on the back of a postage stamp.  Either she was originally worthy of recognition, in which case she must still be, or she shouldn't have been offered it in the first place.