Lingerie company chief rejects MBE

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20070620/tuk-lingerie-company-chief-rejects-mbe-6323e80.html

Lingerie company chief rejects MBE

Press Assoc. - Wednesday, June 20 04:32 pm

The co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur has rejected his MBE because he finds Tony Blair "morally corrupt".

Joseph Corre was awarded the title for his services to the fashion industry in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

<snip>

"I have 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."

Mr Corre's wife and Agent Provocateur co-founder Serena Rees is "delighted" with her own MBE and will not be rejecting it, a spokeswoman for the chain said.

<snip>

"This in no way reflects on my opinion of the Queen whom I respect and would be honoured to have as a customer."

I'd read a similar story from a UK source (possibly identical) and the lack of a definition made it hard to understand. I mean, I think I can guess given the Salman Rushdie thing but... still, I'm not sure what the abbreviation stands for, precisely. Thanks!

Maybe some of the British DUers can explain it for us?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire

That clears it up finally.

Multistate Bar Exam? Minority Business Entrepreneur?

I guess the Google is not really helping out, here. What the heck is MBE, please?

On edit, never mind. I just got it from the Wikipedia link above: Member of the Order of the British Empire.

He would have been asked weeks ago whether he wanted to accept - and must have said 'yes' then. Now that his name is in public (so he gets the publicity that he's "done well"), he turns around and says (in a tone that's almost like Rick from The Young Ones) that he can't be involved with a government that's morally corrupt etc. Plenty of people decline these honours when they're asked - but Corre wanted to have his cake and eat it.