Why are the heroes from Grenfell Tower, Manchester and London Bridge not on the New Year Honours list?

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy You would think, wouldn’t you, that after the year the country and the Government has been through – terrorism, the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, a disastrous and unnecessary general election, Brexit – that ministers and civil servants might have learnt a few hard truths about listening and responding to public sentiment. So it is, then, that in the New Year Honours list not a single fireman or woman, police officer, paramedic, hospital worker, or any civilian caught up in these horrifying events has been honoured for their involvement in rescuing, comforting and treating the poor souls traumatised by what they went through. Traditionally that doesn’t happen, though there’s nothing stopping Parliament authorising such spending; but traditionally suitable honours would be awarded instead of cold cash. We’re told by the PR flunkies that the reason for the absence of nominations relating to the terror attacks in London and Manchester, or the Grenfell disaster, is because it takes time for such nominations to come through the system and they will be noted next year.