THE absence of birthday honours for political figures in Queen Elizabeth's Birthday list, the first time this has happened for some years, is seen as a reflection of the new Labour governments' opposition to this type of award, writes Rachel Donnelly.
The list of 980 names contains an award of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery to Gwen Mayor (posthumously), the teacher from Dunblane Primary School who was shot by Thomas Hamilton last year, and the two other teachers who were seriously injured in the attack, Mary Blake and Eileen Harrild.
Lisa Potts (22), the kindergarten teacher who was repeatedly slashed by a man with a machete as she tried to protect her charges last year, is awarded the George Medal.
Another teacher to receive a gallantry award is Philip Lawrence, the headmaster who was stabbed to death 18 months ago as he defended one of his pupils from an attacker.
Prince Charles's close friend, Camilla Parker Bowles, could be prosecuted for leaving the scene of a car crash she was involved in earlier this week, and for causing the accident, Wiltshire police suggested yesterday, reports Rachel Borrill.
Inspector Geoff Hicks, who is leading the inquiry, said tyre marks and other scientific evidence was being examined to gauge Parker Bowles's speed and road-position on the country lane, near Charles's Highgrove estate.
Italians are urged to boycott referendums