FRED Goodwin joins a select gang who have been stripped of their knighthoods and awards by Britain.

He is the 35th person to have an honour withdrawn since 1995.

Last year, former Manchester headteacher, Jean Else, became the first woman to have her damehood annulled.

Robert Mugabe, knighted in 1994, had his honour withdrawn in 2008 following violent, disputed elections.

Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, honoured in an attempt to improve relations within Europe during the Cold War had his knighthood revoked the day before his execution by firing squad.

Anthony Blunt, the keeper of the Queen's pictures, had his knighthood revoked in 1979 after then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, exposed him as a Soviet spy.

Others who lost honours include the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, left, the first Italian to receive the honour. Il Duce lost his knighthood when Italy joined Nazi Germany in 1940 in declaring war on the UK.

Roger Casement's case remains controversial; a distinguished diplomat, he was eventually hanged for treason. He had attempted to deliver weapons to Irish republicans before the Easter Rising in 1916. GUARDIAN