It coulda, shoulda been "Sir" Steve Jobs ... - San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

refused to knight Mr Jobs in 2009 because he turned down an invitation to speak at the Labor Party conference, a former senior Labor MP said.

Mr Jobs was put forward for the honor by the MP for services to technology.

Apple was aware of the proposal, said the MP, and it reached the final stages of approval, but was rejected by Downing Street.

Mr Jobs was snubbed despite the 2005 award of an honorary knighthood to Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and a long-term rival.

A spokeswoman for the former Prime Minister said today: "Mr Brown did not block a knighthood for Steve Jobs."