Athletes to receive separate honours

Under the current system, the number of sporting honours is reported to be limited to one knighthood, four CBEs, 20 OBEs and 38 MBEs.

But due to the success of British athletes this summer, it is understood Prime Minister David Cameron has decided that change is needed to ensure that honours are not limited in this way.

One source said: “They will be dealt with separately, as it has been an exceptional year.”

TeamGB won 29 gold medals at the Olympics, while the Paralympians have so far notched up 32 golds.

Olympians Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah and Paralympians Sarah Storey and Ellie Simmonds are strong contenders for an honour.

Embarrassment

A separate honours list would mean Mr Cameron would avoid the potential embarrassment of seeing gongs for civil servants and business people eclipse those for popular figures who have exceeded expectations this summer.

The prime minister was criticised this week after it emerged that ministers sacked in the reshuffle would receive honours.

Former Commons leader Sir George Young will be recommended for appointment to the order of the companions of honour, while former agriculture minister James Paice and former solicitor general Edward Garnier have been put forward for knighthoods.

Mr Cameron has also recommended former defence ministers Nick Harvey and Gerald Howarth for knighthoods. Some critics feared this could be at the expense of successful Olympians and Paralympians.

Limited

The Whitehall committee which decides which sportsmen and women to honour has said it is unlikely every medal winner will be rewarded.

Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson said in August there are limits on how many gongs can be handed out.

The issue came to the surface on August 29, when a parliamentary committee argued that honours should no longer be awarded to civil servants and business people for simply “doing the day job”.

In a report, the Commons public administration select committee said honours should only be bestowed if it could be demonstrated that there has been service above and beyond the call of duty.