A top Cabinet Minister has paid tribute to rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield amid growing calls for him to be knighted.
Sinfield, 42, has raised more than £8million for motor neurone disease charities in honour of his best pal Rob Burrow, who suffers from the debilitating condition.
Asked about calls for the pair to become Sirs, Health Secretary Steve Barclay - who was presented with today's Mirror front page live on BBC Breakfast - said: "As the Health Secretary but also a rugby fan I think what both of them have done is absolutely amazing.
“I think they're both remarkable characters.
“If I can just lean in as much as possible in that context to say (I) just think they're inspirational figures and I think what they have done for the MND community is absolutely remarkable.
“I think their campaign is absolutely inspirational and perhaps if I can leave it there rather than straying too much into territory which ministers shouldn't."
The Mirror told earlier how stuffy Cabinet Office protocol rules meaning recipients must wait up to five years for their accolades to be upgraded are set to thwart attempts to knight Sinfield, who became an OBE last year.
We revealed how some Cabinet Office staff were “disappointed” and “p***** off” at red-tape holding up a knighthood.
Cross-code rugby star Jonathan Davies, now a BBC commentator, backed calls for Sinfield’s honour to be upgraded.
“He deserves it for what he’s trying to achieve,” he said.
“What Kevin Sinfield has done is totally inspirational and just shows what friendship really means.
“What he’s done for a greater cause is just incredible, astonishing.”
Davies refused to be drawn into the row over Whitehall protocol delaying a knighthood, but added: “I think people who deserve commendations deserve them.
“There are all different regulations and reasons for different honours but there’s no doubt he’s put himself up there.”
More than 44,000 people have signed an online change.org petition demanding the top gong for Oldham-born Sinfield.
Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, Jim McMahon, said: “The Oldham community is rightly proud of our hero Kevin Sinfield and it’s therefore not a surprise that he is being talked about for a knighthood.
“I can’t think of many more deserving recipients and I’m sure many will hope that there’s a way to make this happen.”
Paying tribute to Sinfield and Burrow, Independent peer Lord John Mann, who is vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rugby League, said: “The work they have done is outstanding and the impact it’s having on communities is very positive and refreshing.
“This is a couple of ordinary lads doing extraordinary things.”
Blasting the bureaucracy which could hamper Sinfield becoming a Sir, he added: “It would be baffling if that doesn’t happen - that’s an excuse factor.
“Protocol should be overridden in this case, absolutely - the public acclamation demands it.
“There’s nobody more fitting anywhere.”
Conservative MP Mark Pawsey, who represents Rugby, Warks, and is a vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rugby League, said: “We all think that rugby players are indestructible, both physically and emotionally, but Rob Burrow shows that anyone can be affected by motor neurone disease.
“Kevin Sinfield has demonstrated extraordinary friendship and camaraderie, and raised a staggering amount for charity.
“Both men are exceptional in different ways and deserve high praise and honour.”
Burrow, 40, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 - triggering a mammoth fundraising effort by his best mate.
In late 2020, he completed seven marathons in seven days and in 2021 he ran 101 miles in 24 hours.
He ran seven back-to-back ultra marathons in November.
Sinfield won new fans last month when he stopped short of the finish at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to carry his friend and former Leeds, England and Great Britain teammate over the line - an image which went around the world and left many in tears.
The picture triggered fresh calls for Sinfield to be knighted.
As well as Cabinet Office workers’ frustration, officials in the Levelling-Up Department are also said to be unhappy at the delay, believing the blockage could be a “levelling-up issue”.
They point to accolades for well-paid rugby union stars, with the 15-man code generally more popular down South compared with the 13-player version predominantly played up North.
Some believe knighting Sinfield would be a visible sign of levelling-up; while he is now defence coach of England’s rugby union team, he is still heavily associated with rugby league.
Asked whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believed the pair should be knighted, a No10 spokesman said: “There’s an independent system for honours and knighthoods.”
He added: “You have heard the PM praise their actions before.
“Kevin Sinfield has done an incredible amount to raise awareness of what’s an incredibly important issue that affects many people up and down the country.
“He’s full of admiration for what he’s done.”
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