Now Sir Spin gets his gong in private
DAVID Cameron’s former spin doctor Sir Craig Oliver insisted on receiving his knighthood in secret yesterday after accusations it was a ‘reward for failure’.
While most recipients of honours are proud to celebrate their achievements publicly, Sir Craig told Buckingham Palace he wanted no photographs and no publicity about his investiture.
Isabel Spearman, who acted as hair stylist to Samantha Cameron, also insisted there should be no publicity about her OBE.
Miss Spearman received her honour yesterday in an investiture ceremony at the Palace conducted by Prince Charles.
Sir Craig, who helped mastermind the disastrous campaign to keep Britain in the EU, has insisted he is not ‘squeamish’ about his new title – although he did not use it for his tell-all book on the referendum campaign.
Former Tory environment secretary Caroline Spelman, who was made a dame yesterday, declined to comment on Sir Craig’s sudden bashfulness. Asked about the criticisms of Mr Cameron’s list – which drew accusations of cronyism – she replied: ‘It’s not for me to comment, it’s his choice and I am very grateful to him for remembering me in his resignation honours.’
But Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said it was telling that even Sir Craig appeared to be embarrassed about being pictured receiving his honour.
He added: ‘I believe that this whole process has been so shoddy it should come as no surprise he doesn’t want any pictures of it happening.
‘This whole saga brings dishonour on the honours system.’
Sir Craig, a former BBC executive who succeeded disgraced spin doctor Andy Coulson at Downing Street, has now taken a major job at lobbying firm Teneo.
Investitures are normally recorded and images are often released to the public, but everyone is given the option to keep their own ceremony private if they wish.
Former chancellor George Osborne, who was made a Companion of Honour by Mr Cameron, proudly posed for photographs when he received his medal last year.
Sir Craig Oliver and Miss Spearman were among the most controversial names on Mr Cameron’s resignation honours list last summer, which showered honours on allies and donors.
Mr Cameron created 13 Tory life peers, giving the Tories 207 – one more than the Labour Party.
As well as Sir Craig, knighthoods were given to Cabinet minister Michael Fallon and former minister and Old Etonian Oliver Letwin.
At the time, Mr Farron said the list was ‘so full of cronies it would shame a medieval court’.
‘Whole shoddy process’