Knicker tycoon rejects MBE

London: A fashion tycoon has rejected his MBE as he branded Tony Blair "morally corrupt".

Joseph Corre, co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, launched an outspoken attack on the Prime Minister a week before he is due to quit No 10.

Corre said: "Initially I was very flattered to have my work with Agent Provocateur recognised by the Establishment. "It even gave me a kick to imagine what some of the bureaucrats and censors I have had to fight up to now must think."

But he felt he had been chosen by "an organisation headed by a Prime Minister who I find morally corrupt, who has been involved in organised lying, to the point where thousands of people including children have suffered death, detention and torture in Afghanistan and Iraq".

Corre is the son of designer Vivienne Westwood and former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.

He added: "Furthermore, against this backdrop we are to have our hard fought civil liberties eroded as a consequence (don't forget Jean Charles de Menezes or our rights to habeas corpus).

"To accept this MBE as an honour would mean to me that I would have to accept the Prime Minister as someone capable of giving an honour, ie an honourable man, which I cannot find it in my heart to do.

"This in no way reflects on my opinion of the Queen whom I respect and would be honoured to have as a customer. In fact I think she would agree with me."

- Evening Standard