Loukas Christodoulou

This year Britain sees, once again, the priorities of a corporate-run society reflected in the New Year's Honours. This supposedly ancient institution is the chance for the Prime Minister of the day to reward those who have really played a part in making the UK successful – so, arms dealers, privatisers, polluters and parasites? That'll do nicely, Ma'm.

Corporate Watch looks at a mere handful of this year's gong-pocketing corporate figures. And not to mention all the civil servants, private school heads and QANGO figures who also work to make the the UK a successful model of a country run by corporations, and imposing corporations on others. God save you, one and all.

Public profiteers

Knighthood: Dr Patrick Haren Deputy Chairman, Viridian Group. 'For services to the Electricity Industry in Northern Ireland.'
Viridian is a billion-pound energy company operating in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. It was formed through the sell off of the public utility Northern Ireland Electricity, which was headed by... Patrick Haren!

Knighthood: Ian McAllister, Chair, Network Rail. 'For services to transport.'
McAllister is a former car industry executive - and was therefore the logical choice to run the UK rail service (Network Rail) when the UK government took over the failing Railtrack company.

Knighthood: Dr Jonathan Hargreaves. Former head, Scottish Water. 'For services to the Water Industry.'
Hargreaves has been high up in various privatised companies since 1990, and has also been the managing director of Entec Europe, a consulting and contracting company with much business with the UK government.

Mongers of War

Knighthood: Allan Cook, Chief Executive, Cobham plc. 'For services to the Defence and Aerospace Industries.'
Sir Cook's company deals in a number of military systems. These include electronic sensors for aircraft and tanks, and electronic weapon components. Major customers include the US and UK armed forces. Unsurprisingly, Cobham is currently experiencing record sales - £1.4bn in 2006.

Knighthood: Murray Easton, Managing Director, Submarine Solutions, BAE Systems. 'For services to the Maritime Industry.'
This division of Bae Systems is responsible for building the UK navy's submarines – including those that carry Britain's Trident nuclear weapons. Murray Easton is also overseeing a £2bn contract to build a new class of submarine, billed as 'the UK’s most capable military asset and weapon of choice in the 21st century'.

OBE: David Bowles, Chair, Northern Defence Industries. 'For services to the Defence Industry.'
NDI, as it prefers to be known, is a company that specialises in helping out arms companies. Access to arms fairs such as DSEi and beig put in touch with buyers are some of the perks they sell. Their clients include over 200 companies, a host of small ones as well as giants such as Bofors, Thales, Bae and Lokcheed Martin. They also work closely with the MoD.

OBE: Dr Dolores Byrne, Managing Director, Public Sector, QinetiQ. 'For services to the Defence Industry.'
A top manager of the formerly state-owned arms company, which provides 'test and evaluation capabilities' to the UK's Ministry of Defence.

OBE: Victor Emery Managing Director, BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions. 'For services to the Shipbuilding Industry.'
Emery is head of the company the builds the ships for the UK navy and also for a range of other customers internationally.

OBE: Michael Greenway, Senior Consultant, EADS Defence and Security UK Ltd. 'For services to Business in Wales.'
'EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.'

OBE: Roger Stokes, former Senior Scientific Officer, QinetiQ. 'For services to the Armed Forces.'
During his time at QinetiQ, Stokes was part of the process to 'transform QinetiQ from a collection of defence research laboratories into a successful and globally recognised company.'