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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lingerie firm founder rejects MBE | Lingerie firm founder rejects MBE |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Joseph Corre, co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, has rejected his MBE because he said he finds Prime Minister Tony Blair "morally corrupt". | Joseph Corre, co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, has rejected his MBE because he said he finds Prime Minister Tony Blair "morally corrupt". |
| Mr Corre was awarded the MBE for his services to the fashion industry in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. | |
| His criticism of Mr Blair, who steps down as the most electorally successful Labour PM next week, focused on Iraq, Afghanistan and civil liberties. | |
| The firm's co-founder Serena Rees, who is his wife, has accepted her MBE. | |
| 'Gave me a kick' | |
| Mr Corre said his decision "in no way reflects on my opinion of the Queen whom I respect and would be honoured to have as a customer". | |
| Although he was initially flattered to have his work recognised - "it even gave me a kick to imagine what some of the bureaucrats and censors I have had to fight up to now must think" - he later decided to reject the honour. | |
| He said the prime minister had been involved in events such as Afghanistan and Iraq that had led to suffering, as well as eroding civil liberties in the UK. | |
| "To accept this MBE as an honour would mean to me that I would have to accept the prime minister as someone capable of giving an honour i.e. an honourable man, which I cannot find it in my heart to do." |