article_snippet: - Margaret Thatcher was explicitly warned that awarding a knighthood to the 29-stone Liberal MP risked damaging the ‘integrity of the honours system’, but went ahead anyway.
article_snippet: One undated letter, marked ‘secret’, from a leading member of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee to Mrs Thatcher, warned of ‘the risk that such an award could give rise to adverse criticism’.
article_snippet: fear that the integrity of the honours system would be at some risk if the award were to be made and announced.
article_snippet: A second note to the Prime Minister, dated May 1988, admitted the committee had ‘some hesitation’ about the award but concluded:
highlights_snippet: Margaret Thatcher was warned that handing Margaret Thatcher knighthood risked damaging 'integrity of the honours system' - but went ahead anyway .