Downing Street has refused to confirm speculation that Sean Connery will finally be made a knight in the New Year's Honours List.

A report in the Daily Mail says Connery, 69, will be at the top of a millennium list of knighthoods which includes Richard Branson and comedian Norman Wisdom.

The paper describes the honour on the veteran James Bond star as "a spectacular U-turn by New Labour".

Edinburgh-born Connery has been an ardent supporter, financially and ideologically, of the Scottish National Party, which wants independence for Scotland.

Leak 'reprehensible'

The party says his backing has meant a knighthood being witheld.

Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar has been accused of blocking the honour personally in an apparent snub to the film star.

The prime minister's official spokesman described as "unfortunate and pretty reprehensible" the leaking of news of forthcoming honours lists.

He said those who received honours were sworn to secrecy and stringent efforts were made to ensure the names did not become public before they were officially published.

But he added that he did not think the SNP had been responsible for leaking the Connery report.

The Daily Mail also claims that departing BBC director-general Sir John Birt is to be made a life peer.

American culture

Connery is no stranger to being bestowed with awards, even if not in his home country.

Recently he was honoured by US President Bill Clinton at a special White House ceremony for those who have made a contribution to American culture.

Mr Clinton jokingly gave honorary citizenship of the US to Connery, who made his name as the first James Bond, telling the Scotsman: "After all, we could not have won the Cold War without you."

Entrapment co-star Catherine Zeta Jones was one of a number of Hollywood stars at the ceremony. She said: "He has taught me the difference between a good single malt whisky and a bad one, and he has taught me the best, dirtiest jokes I have ever heard in my life."