LISA NANDY: 'Sir Kevin Sinfield inspired a nation through rugby league, charity, love and friendship'

LISA NANDY: 'Sir Kevin Sinfield inspired a nation through rugby league, charity, love and friendship' EXCLUSIVE: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says Kevin Sinfield's knighthood is 'long overdue', adding he 'inspired a nation through rugby league, charity, love and friendship' Arise Sir Kevin Sinfield. This award is recognition of an extraordinary individual who has raised millions for research into MND, the heart-breaking degenerative disease that currently has no cure. It is a recognition of the incredible courage of Rob Burrow and his amazing family. It is a tribute to the power of friendship – I will never forget the moment in 2023 when Sir Kevin and Rob crossed the Leeds Marathon finish line together with Rob in Kevin’s arms. It is for rugby league, overlooked for too long in our honours system, for Yorkshire and for the North of England. And it is long overdue. When I became culture secretary two years ago I was determined to right the historic injustice that denied too many people recognition for too long through an honours system that has too often overlooked the ordinary, extraordinary people who are the real heroes and make this country what it is. When we did the research, we found in one honours list alone only 6% of higher awards went to people in the North of England and only 4% to people who are working class. That cannot stand. Last year, we were able to award the first ever knighthood to rugby league in history and recognise Sir Billy Boston, a black, working-class man from Cardiff who went on to become the greatest rugby league player the world has known. He is joined now by another star of rugby league, Sir Kevin Sinfield. But the truth is, had Sir Billy come from a different background, place and sport he would have been recognised decades ago. For so long our honours system has not recognised people from working class sports, from different cultures and backgrounds. It has overlooked so many everyday heroes in communities across our country in favour of people who are better known and better connected. The further you live from London the less likely you were to be seen. We are determined this will change. People like Sir Billy Boston and Sir Kevin Sinfield have shown stamina and courage and a willingness to fight for what is right. Their recognition is long overdue. But they are not the only ones. This year we have recognised people like Charlie Webster, the Sheffield-born broadcaster, who survived sexual abuse and chose to waive her anonymity to speak truth to power and change the lives of others. We are changing the honours system to reflect the ordinary, extraordinary people who make us what we are. Sir Kevin Sinfield has inspired a nation through rugby league, charity, love and friendship. He can add a changed honours system - that recognises all of our people - to that list.