Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office
Reform the UK honours system to remove references to Empire
Closed
261 signatures
What the petition asks
Rename those honours which incorporate Empire in their names and introduce replacement names which are a more appropriate reflection of modern Britain.
References to the UK Empire ignore the historical context in which the Empire was created and the exploitation of both the people and resources of the countries which were part of it. Its existence enriched the UK at the expense of these people and countries and its impact persists to the present.
It is now widely recognised that the Empire is not something to be celebrated. To continue to reference it when honouring people today is not just inappropriate, but insulting.
It is now widely recognised that the Empire is not something to be celebrated. To continue to reference it when honouring people today is not just inappropriate, but insulting.
Timeline
| 7 Jul 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 7 Jan 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
261
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
7 Jul 2020
Closed
7 Jan 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.