Exclusive Prime Minister Refuses Airport Heroes Medals Like Smeaton Because They Weren't Brave Enough
GORDON BROWN has delivered an amazing snub to three of the heroes who foiled the Glasgow Airport terror plot.
The families of Michael Kerr, Stephen Clarkson and Alex McIlveen have been campaigning for them to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal - awarded to airport worker John Smeaton last year.
But last week their request was rejected in a letter from the Cabinet Office which claimed their actions were not brave enough. The letter, signed by the high-ranking official who advises the PM on medals, stated that the men's actions "though praise-worthy, did not reach the standard for a gallantry award".
Holidaymaker Michael, 40, suffered a broken leg and smashed teeth when he helped fight off the attackers.
Stephen, 41, of Penilee, Glasgow, wrestled driver Kafeel Ahmed to the ground. Stephen has since suffered a brain aneurysm.
And taxi driver Alex, 45, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, tore a tendon in his foot as he kicked out at Ahmed.
The Sunday Mail took the decision to honour ALL the airport heroes at our Great Scot awards last year.
All 11 men who tackled the bombers - including Michael, Stephen, Alex and John Smeaton - were named our Great Scots of 2007.
Last night the men's families reacted with fury to the Prime Minister's snub.
Michael's wife Annette, 35, of Denny, Stirlingshire, who first approached Brown about the honour, said: "I am furious.
"The letter said there had to be a conscious decision to go forward knowing the risk for a considerable length of time rather than simply being 'caught up in events'.
"How they could judge that Michael and Stephen and Alex don't fit this, while John does?
"It belittles what they did.
"This is not to take anything away from John but I take it as a personal insult to my husband - and Alex and Stephen too."
Baggage handler Smeaton, 31, backed the families' campaign and supported the letter sent to Brown.
He was given the medal - one of the highest bravery honours that can be awarded to a civilian - last year in the midst of worldwide recognition for his role in the June 30 attacks.
He became a media star after he warned terrorists: "This is Glasgow - we'll just set aboot ye."
Last night Smeaton said: "We all behaved in exactly the same way.
"It is wrong that I'm the only one to get the medal because the others are equally as deserving.
"I disagree with this decision." Stephen Clarkson's brother David said last night: "This is totally unfair.
"I know Stephen feels he has been treated shabbily."
And fellow hero Alex asked: "If we didn't do enough to justify an award, then what did John do that was different? This is disgraceful."
A Cabinet Office official said: "We never discuss individual honours or gallantry cases. The government hold in the highest regard the selfless actions of everyone, including Michael Kerr, involved in foiling the bombing incident at Glasgow Airport."
'It's wrong that I'm the only one to get the medal'
**Another day an another New Labour fuck up in New Labour's socialist paradise that is "Cool Britannia"...
Tags: john smeaton, War on terror, Islam, terrorists, Moslems
6 people have spoken:
How fucking typical--these parasites, sitting on their fat, well-fed arses presume to judge people who acted gallantly under enormous pressure....
Filth, the lot of 'em. *spit*
Lets think now;
If a group of Muslims had stopped a Neo-Nazi from burning a Mosque to the ground, what would this governments response have been there?.
Arrise Sir Mohammads!!!.
I must admit to how well have this current government done their homework, in respect of keeping the vast majority of British peoples away from the ugly and depressing truths of their real designs for our future fates?.
Talk to the man on the street about Political correctness, and his tone will lower as he whispers of big brothers attempts to silence us all. "Of course it wont happen to me" he'll suddenly pipe up, but in that instance perhaps he's already realised it has.
And what of Islam?.
Does the typical Brit have the first notion of what we now have in our midsts.
Not a chance!.
Religion is blasphemy to all whom survey, and the very idea that muslims could posibly take their religion more seriously than football or socialising is tantamount to insanity as far as our countrymen are concerned.
Do people really think that the E.U. is a worrying development?.
Out of sight out of mind, is the numbing reaction that I am left with - and a vote on the subject?. People seemed to have accepted with mundane mediocrity that the dye has already been cast and there is nothing to be done.
Yep, our Marxist puppetmasters have understood the British publics psyche far better than we could ever give them credit for.
Their aim has been to silence protests with BBC properganda and self rightiousness and hey presto, indotrination by proxy.
Of course this tried and tested approach has convieniently allowed them to get on with importing a new race of peoples to replace the current incumbants that nu labour detest so very much.
Power to the people - The Islamic people that is!!.
Perhaps he wanted the terrorists to murder a couple of hundred people so he can parrot about peace and flowers or something. A waste of space indeed.
Sadly this is the level that our amoral government has sunk to, use John for pr and sod the others.
You could be right, MK, Are they displeased that the attack was foiled?
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