‘Cronies’ row over gongs for top Tories ahead of May’s Brexit vote

THERESA May was caught in a cronyism row after honours were announced for leading Brexiteers.

Speculation has been rife at Westminster that the system may be used to lure MPs to back her withdrawal deal ahead of next month’s vote.

John Redwood – one of the Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers branded “bastards” by John Major – gets a knighthood. Last week he published “Eight things wrong with the withdrawal agreement”.

Leading Brexiteer Sir Edward Leigh has been made a privy counsellor.

He has yet to announce how he will vote next month but has conceded that Mrs May’s efforts to secure concessions from Brussels could yet pay off.

Tories Philip Dunne and Sir Roger Gale, who both say they will back the plans, were also appointed to the Privy Council – the body of senior politicians that offers advice to the Queen.

Tory MP Gary Streeter, who backed Remain in the 2016 referendum and has already made clear that he will support the PM, also gets a knighthood.

Airbus UK chief Katherine Bennett, whose company warned it might reconsider its investment in the UK in light of Brexit but has now offered cautious support for the PM’s plan, gets an OBE.

German-born Siemens UK chief Jurgen Maier becomes a CBE. He also backed Mrs May’s deal.

Tory donor John H J Lewis, who has given thousands to the party, becomes an OBE.

Labour chairman Ian Lavery said: “It is insulting to those who make valuable contributions to society that the Tories still use the system to award honours to their own grandees and donors.”