The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
No objection to honours list despite cronyism claim
Prime Minister will not interfere with official process
Prime Minister Theresa May will not interfere with the official process of approving her predecessor David Cameron’s resignation honours list despite allegations of cronyism, Downing Street has said.
Following a leak of the list, opposition MPs demanded a complete overhaul of the system after it was claimed the former PM is pushing to reward personal aides, political donors and senior figures on the losing Remain campaign.
Mrs May was under pressure to intervene but a spokeswoman said the new premier would not interfere in decisions of the honours committees, which are independent of No 10.
“It is standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list,” the spokeswoman said.
“The names on the list were at the former Prime Minister’s discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees.
“It would set a very bad precedent for a new Prime Minister to interfere in the official processes.”
The cronyism row was sparked by reports that Mr Cameron had recommended knighthoods for four pro-EU cabinet colleagues – Philip Hammond, Michael Fallon, Patrick McLoughlin and David Lidington.
Mr Cameron also requested a Companion of Honour award for George Osborne, who was dismissed as chancellor by Prime Minister Theresa May, according to the Sunday Times.
Will Straw, head of the failed official pro-Remain campaign, was proposed for a CBE, and more than 20 Downing Street staff were recommended for awards, according to the report.
Among those reported to be recommended for OBEs is Isabel Spearman, who helped Samantha Cameron with her diary and outfits for various engagements.
It was also claimed Mr Cameron recommended knighthoods for Tory donors Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said Mr Cameron’s bid to reward his friends presented the worst of the “old boys’ network”.
But Conservative former minister Desmond Swayne, who was previously Mr Cameron’s parliamentary private secretary, said an honours list was a “relatively light way” of paying off “debts of honour”.
Nominations for honours are reviewed by honours committees, which include senior civil servants and people judged to be independent of Government.
It would set a very bad precedent for a new Prime Minister to interfere in the official processes. GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN