This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The editor of the Financial Times has been offered France’s highest honour in recognition of his career in journalism and the paper’s “positive role in the European debate”.

However, Lionel Barber appears to be aware of the sensitivity of such an award following the UK’s Brexit vote, and deleted a tweet he posted featuring a photo of a letter from the French ambassador saying he has been appointed as a Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur.



The letter to Barber, which it seems he intended to send as a private direct message to someone referred to as “LW”, outlined the criteria for the award.

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“France wants to recognise your remarkable career, your contribution to high-quality journalism, and the Financial Times’ positive role in the European debate,” the letter read.



Barber told “LW” he was sharing the award letter “confidentially because not good publicity in the UK right now!”



The letter said Barber would be presented with the “insignia of the Chevalier” at a ceremony at the French Residence in London” on a date of his own choosing.

The Légion d’Honneur is France’s highest military and civil award, and was established in 1802 by Napoléon Bonaparte.



British recipients include musician Paul McCartney, author JK Rowling and actor Kristin Ann Scott Thomas, while US members include directors Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch and Steven Spielberg, music producer Quincy Jones, writer Toni Morrison and actors Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand and Arnold Schwarzenegger.



The Financial Times had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

