That British passport you accepted is far more powerful than an MBE. Citizenship of the British empire is far more important than being given an award within it. A lot of you are hypocrites and you’re not ready for that conversation. A lot of people are hypocrites. They’ll happily carry a British passport, vote in British elections, use the NHS, claim British citizenship, represent Britain abroad and enjoy all the rights that come with belonging to the UK. But then act shocked when someone accepts an MBE. If your argument is that anything connected to the British Empire is morally unacceptable, then surely the passport has to go first. A British passport isn’t just a travel document. It’s a certificate of membership. It literally says you are a British citizen and asks foreign governments to recognise and protect you as one. That’s a far deeper relationship with the British state than receiving a medal. An MBE doesn’t give you citizenship. It doesn’t give you voting rights. It doesn’t give you residency. It doesn’t even give you a discount on the Tube. It’s simply recognition. You don’t have to agree with every chapter of British history to accept recognition from modern Britain. Just as you don’t have to agree with every chapter of British history to carry a British passport. Personally, I don’t care whether someone accepts an MBE or rejects one. I just find it fascinating when people condemn one while carrying the other in their back pocket.

Anti fur protest outside the louis vuitton store over the weekend in London.