Kevin Maguire in The Mirror salutes film director Danny Boyle's refusal of a knighthood and notes that he becomes a member of 'an exclusive rebel band' who have rejected knighthoods or peerages including former UNISON General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kevin-maguire-on-why-nick-clegg-should-1495017