Steve Jobs's Knighthood Reportedly Blocked By Gordon Brown

According to a report by the Telegraph, Steve Jobs was nominated for knighthood in 2009 but was blocked from the honor by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Why did Brown snub Jobs? A former member of the Labour party told the Telegraph that the ex-PM refused Jobs because the Apple CEO had "turned down an invitation to speak at the Labour Party conference."

"Apple has been the only major global company to create stunning consumer products because it has always taken design as the key component of everything it has produced," the unnamed source said, according to the Telegraph. "No other CEO has consistently shown such a commitment."

Thus, Steve Jobs came a stone's throw from receiving his honorary knighthood. Brown, however, reportedly blocked the process in its end stages.

Jobs is not the only tech titan to be considered for knighthood by Britain. Bill Gates was awarded the honor in 2005, though Geekosystem notes that he cannot claim the title "Sir," as he is not a citizen of the British Commonwealth.

Comments

[Capitolist]

05:15 PM on 03/03/2011

It's not right.
They keep forgetting David Hasselhoff.

[Montesquieu MM]

04:01 PM on 03/03/2011

Gordon Brown has always been petty.

[Lohikaarme]

05:45 PM on 03/02/2011

Steve got a taste of what many developers feel when Apple arbitrarily rejects their apps.

[levresamant]

10:11 AM on 03/02/2011

Gordon Brown can go take a flying &*(&(&(&(* in a rolling &(&(*&(*&(*&(

[norgedude]

02:08 AM on 03/02/2011

Thank gawd! We don't need the pomposity of his growing bigger from an honorific title that should be reserved for people that deserve it.

[hamalnamal]

01:04 AM on 03/02/2011

Steve Jobs? naw, knight Richard Stallman. He's way cooler.

[redmaple]

11:54 PM on 03/01/2011

Stevo doesnt' need a knighthood. In his mind, he's god.

[MrAngryPants]

12:51 AM on 03/02/2011

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!! That is so FUNNY, and entertaining, and grown-up, and sophisticated. Your humor is nothing, if not disarmingly charming and witty. Please - more!

[redmaple]

12:00 AM on 03/03/2011

My god, I think you have psychological problems.

[norgedude]

02:15 AM on 03/02/2011

He's a legend in his own mind!

[ramblingjohnny]

11:32 PM on 03/01/2011

I guess he did not like having to install Itunes just to sync his Iphone!

[MyTake]

10:52 PM on 03/01/2011

Well, where was Al Gore on this issue?

Gore sits on the Apple Board of Directors and could have picked up the phone and could have threatened Brown with sending back the bust of Winston Churchill or something like that.

And beside, you have to be a 33rd degree Freemason to qualify for Knighthood.

They should have knighted Gates and Job's at the same and put the both of them in the Wax Museum!

[johndoewasthere]

09:39 PM on 03/01/2011

Thank god...!

[speedntktz]

06:34 PM on 03/01/2011

So what are the chances of Johnathan Ive being nominated?

[canadian75]

04:39 PM on 03/01/2011

I agree with Gordon. Should a factory owner in China get a knighthood because their able to make millions of stuff for 8cents an hour?

Apple is didn't revolutionize anything... they create a product, build a fantasy marketing to fool fanboys, and convince the media its the best product in the world.

they succeed because their usually the first in, provide little customize and give you no options to choose. once their in, it hard to change the market, but their products arn't always the best in their segment.

[norgedude]

02:10 AM on 03/02/2011

Thank you!

[Montesquieu MM]

04:00 PM on 03/03/2011

Your computer isn't made by a company who outsourced for 8 cents an hour?

[dukeofurl01]

04:00 PM on 03/01/2011

It comes down to... why should he be knighted? Just because he invented something? Is there any other reason that he should be knighted and I shouldnt be?

[canadian75]

04:35 PM on 03/01/2011

im not a fan of Steve Jobs, but I can admit his done great work up until he became a dictator and total a$$|-|0le

[blackstarpictures]

06:19 PM on 03/01/2011

Typical "me" generation response. The world does not revolve around you and your 3 HP fans.

[plazma]

02:52 PM on 03/01/2011

Hey!
I just opened up a box of CrackerJacks and guess what my prize was?
Knighthood!!!

[norgedude]

02:13 AM on 03/02/2011

Dang - you grabbed the box of Cracker Jacks before I had the chance.

[CamBrown99]

02:47 PM on 03/01/2011

Cue the Steve Jobs H8ers... oh wait, they've already started!
I'll go ahead and start calling him Sir Steve Jobs for enhancing my life with Apple computers and Pixar films.

[plazma]

02:51 PM on 03/01/2011

I guess your life wasnt worth much to begin with then

[CamBrown99]

02:55 PM on 03/01/2011

I wonder how many hours I've saved not having to deal with a computer virus or a blue screen of death?