HONOURS: THE STENCH GROWS
Tainted gongs to get the nod without scrutiny Former aide says Cameron is ‘paying off debts’ Dave wants to send MORE cronies to Lords
The outcry over David Cameron’s resignation honours intensified last night with a series of damning revelations. Astonishingly, it emerged his 48-strong list was simply being rubber stamped by the committee appointed to scrutinise it.
Sources said it had the power to block nominations only if they were on the usual New Year or Queen’s birthday honours lists. It also became clear Mr Cameron’s former tennis partner Lord Feldman had helped him draw up the nominations, which included his wife’s stylist.
And it emerged the former prime minister was set to defy the furore by seeking to reward up to a dozen more of his political cronies with peerages. But in a blow to Mr Cameron, it was suggested that reservations have already been raised about several of those he plans to nominate.
A source said leading City broker Michael Spencer, the former Tory treasurer, had failed the ‘sniff test’ over his links to a firm involved in the Libor-fixing scandal. Meanwhile Theresa May refused to block Mr Cameron’s list, saying it was a matter for him. The latest developments came as:
Former Cameron aide Sir Desmond Swayne claimed the honours system was a way to ‘pay off’ political debts – and a bargain for taxpayers.
Even Tory MPs criticised the list, with one saying it made her ‘sad for politics’.
There was confusion over whether four Remain- supporting Cabinet ministers
reportedly nominated for a knighthood would end up actually receiving them.
The honours scandal was ignited on Sunday when the list of 48 names was leaked, including Mrs Cameron’s former diary planner and stylist Isabel Spearman and George Osborne’s aide Thea Rogers.
Critics said it showed Mr Cameron was hijacking the system to reward aides, political donors and senior figures in the losing Remain campaign.
But last night extraordinary details emerged about lax vetting of the names by the Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee, which is chaired by former Tory backbench chief Lord Spicer.
Despite being set up in 2012 to review honours candidates, its blocking powers only apply to the New Year’s and Birthday Honours lists. Prime Ministers’ Resignation and Dissolution Honours lists are not subject to the same scrutiny.
It means the committee can do no more than raise an issue of propriety about a potential candidate put forward by Mr Cameron.
Members are merely sent the list and offered the opportunity to comment but can only raise serious matters which might otherwise disqualify a candidate. It means there is no oversight of the choices, which will now all be waved through unless a candidate is found to be improper.
‘The Resignation Honours lists are completely within the purview of the Prime Minister,’ a source close to the process said. ‘The crucial issue is that the committee do not have the power to approve any of the nominations as they do in the New Year’s or Birthday Honours. It is very unsatisfactory.’
Committee members range from dames to lords – and include Dame Rosie Winterton who sat on the body that recommended her for an honour.
Yesterday Mrs May refused to bow to pressure to block the controversial resignation honours list – saying it would set a ‘ bad precedent’. Her spokesman said she would not ‘interfere’ in the process. Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, accused Mr Cameron of throwing around gongs ‘like confetti’. He called on Mrs May to ‘practice what she preaches’ on cleaning up politics and use her powers to block the honours. He also criticised the award for Mrs Cameron’s stylist, saying: ‘I don’t think she deserves an OBE.’
Despite the furore, around a dozen peerages for Mr Cameron’s former aides and possible donors are also expected to be announced. They are set to include Gabby Bertin, a loyal aide to Mr Cameron from his time as leader of the opposition to the dying days of his administration. However this list of up to 12 proposed peerages has been blocked by the honours committee over the involvement of rumoured nominee Mr Spencer’s firm in the Libor scandal, the Daily Telegraph reported.
His ICAP City brokerage has been fined £55million over the rate-rigging scandal, although he was not personally implicated. It is expected that he will not be approved for a peerage, after concerns were raised by the Cabinet office’s head of ethics. As a result, the dozen proposed peerages may be delayed until the autumn.
Yesterday, Tory Tania Mathias said the resignation list made her ‘sad for politics’. The Twickenham MP added: ‘If my non-political friends have to ask why somebody gets an honour that makes me nervous.’
Downing Street would not be drawn on reports that four Cabinet members – Philip Hammond, Michael Fallon, David Lidington and Patrick McLoughlin – had been directed by Mrs May to turn down their honours.
They were on the original resignation list but the BBC said they were not being put forward after all. It is understood Mr Cameron may have nominated them, thinking they would be sacked under a new prime minister.
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