Nationalists brand Tory honours a farce

THE awarding of honours to a string of Conservative figures, including David Cameron’s election guru Lynton Crosby, has been branded a Whitehall farce by the SNP.

The Prime Minister has been severely criticised for allegedly using the honours system to reward “Tory cronies and donors” after a number of allies were recognised in the New Year’s list.

As well as Sir Lynton, who was credited with helping Mr Cameron win the General Election, honours have also gone to Mark McInnes, director of the Scottish Conservatives, and James Stewart, their treasurer, who were both made CBEs for “political service”.

OBEs were given to Conservative Party campaign strategist Marion Little and Spencer Pitfield, director of the Tories’ national policy forum, while Lyndon Jones, deputy chairman of the Welsh Conservatives, was appointed MBE. Former Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham was awarded a knighthood.

Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, denounced Sir Lynton’s knighthood as “outrageous” and was the “clearest evidence yet that the Tories think they can get away with whatever they like”.

His Labour colleague Graham Jones said: “The honours system is supposed to recognise dedicated public service, not simply be a vehicle to reward Tory cronies and donors. David Cameron should take care not to undermine the integrity of the system.”

Stewart Hosie, the SNP’s deputy leader, said: “This is more of the Whitehall farce of honours, knighthoods and peerages. They devalue the real reason for these honours; to recognise public service and achievement.

“To be so blatantly political, as some of these honours are, appears to be the norm for the Tories and diminishes them in the eyes of the public.”