Theresa May (pictured visiting Poland last week) has refused to intervene to block David Cameron’s honours list as she wants to avoid setting a ‘very bad precedent’
Theresa May has refused to intervene to block David Cameron’s honours list as she wants to avoid setting a ‘very bad precedent’.
She faced demands to stop her predecessor showering knighthoods and other gongs on a staggering 48 aides, allies and donors as part of his resignation honours list.
The new Prime Minister was warned that failure to prevent so many awards going to his ‘cronies’ would undermine her pledge to end government ‘for the privileged few’.
But despite growing calls for her to act, Downing Street said this morning she would not block any of the honours as it would set a bad precedent for a new Prime Minister to interfere in official processes.
Only serving prime ministers can officially make recommendations for honours to the Queen but it is convention they do not intervene to block nominations from their predecessors.
The scale and audacity of Mr Cameron’s list led to calls for Mrs may to make exception and whittle down the list, which would have been humiliating for Mr Cameron.
The former PM has risked ruining his legacy by recommending gongs for scores of pro-EU campaigners, political cronies, donors, knighthoods to four Cabinet ministers and even an award for his wife’s personal stylist Isabel Spearman.
One ex-Cabinet minister accused the former Prime Minister of ‘sticking up two fingers’ to the country by lavishing gongs on Remain campaigners after their failure to win the EU referendum.
Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham demanded all the recommended honours be turned down by Mrs May.
‘If they are accepted, they will destroy any remaining shred of respect for the honours system,’ he said.
But Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne – himself a recipient of Mr Cameron’s generous honours rewards – defended his former boss, saying the honours list was a ‘relatively light way’ of paying off ‘debts of honour’.
‘The reality is with any honours list there are names that will warm our hearts and names that will send us into an apoplectic rage,’ he told the BBC.
However deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson MP called on Mrs may to prove her actions matched her rhetoric by blocking the nominations.
On the steps of Downing Street minutes after being appointed Prime Minister last month, Mrs May promised: ‘The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours.’
A leaked draft suggests David Cameron (pictured left delivering his resignation speech outside No 10 last month) will shower knighthoods and other honours on a staggering 48 aides, allies, donors and four Cabinet ministers with knighthoods. Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson (right) has demanded Theresa May step in to whittle down the list as the awards ‘undermine’ her pledge to end government ‘for the privileged’
Mr Watson said last night: ‘I hope Theresa May is not going stake her reputation on David Cameron’s old boys network.
‘That Mr Cameron proposes to reward his friends network on such a huge scale will not only bring the honours system into disrepute, it will undermine the reputation of the Theresa May.
‘It’s cronyism, pure and simple and proof the Tories will always put their own interests before those of the country.’
But responding to calls for Mrs May to step in, a Downing Street spokeswoman said this morning: ‘It is standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list.
‘The names on the list were at the formerly 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.’
Tory MPs also launched furious attacks on the ex-Prime Minister and to the rage of many key figures in the Conservative Party, only one of those he plans to reward campaigned for Leave during the EU referendum.
Senior Government figures said they were stunned by the scale of his ‘cronyism’ – which apparently also includes nominations for his wife’s personal stylist Ms Spearman, and ex-Chancellor George Osborne’s close aide Thea Rogers, who is said to have encouraged him to lose weight.
Samantha Cameron’s aide and fashion confidant Isabel Spearman, left, is reportedly set to be appointed an OBE while George Osborne’s aide Thea Rogers, right, is also set for the same honour
Several prominent Remain campaigners and Tory donors reportedly head the leaked list of David Cameron’s (pictured in Cornwall with wife Samantha) resignation honours
Tory sources said ex-party chairman Lord Feldman, Mr Cameron’s old university friend, had played a key role in compiling the resignation honours list – despite being entirely unelected himself.
One ex-Cabinet minister said: ‘This is just appalling. He is brazenly rewarding people who were totally loyal to him personally and ignoring all those ministers who worked hard and loyally served the party and the country.
‘Secondly, he is brazenly rewarding those who were with him in his failed project to keep Britain inside the EU.
‘There is no sense from this that he ran a country – it was a clique that he ran. He is just sticking two fingers up to the Conservative Party.’
Politicians and the public alike have hit out at the list including Labour leadership race hopeful Owen Smith claim the former prime minister is ‘slapping his mates on the back’ by giving them gongs, while former UKIP leader Nigel Farage described the line-up as ‘too many rewards for failure’.
Meanwhile it has prompted public outcry with many aiming their fury at George Osborne, who is in line to become a companion of honour, claiming any nomination for the former chancellor would be an ‘insult to the poor’.
In an unprecedented leak of nominations, it is believed that the former Prime Minister has requested knighthoods for businessmen Ian Taylor, left, and Andrew Cook, right, who have donated more than £1million to the Tories
Four current cabinet members also proposed for knighthoods include the new Chancellor Philip Hammond, left, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, right
SamCam’s stylist and several prominent Remain campaigners and Tory donors reportedly head the leaked list of honours.
An OBE is thought to have been nominated for Samantha Cameron’s Girl Friday Isabel Spearman, who worked as her stylist.
In an unprecedented leak of nominations, it is believed that the former Prime Minister has also requested knighthoods for businessmen Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook, who have donated more than £1million to the Tories.
Others reportedly in line for knighthoods are cabinet members and Remain supporters Philip Hammond, Michael Fallon, David Lidington and Patrick McLoughlin.
Mr Smith, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership, tweeted a statement today calling for an overhaul of the honours system.
He said: ‘David Cameron’s list of honours are the most eloquent possible argument for overhauling the whole honours system.
‘I’m disappointed that the former prime minister should use the system to slap his friends on the back.
‘Yet it shows just how warped a sense of perspective this Tory Party has governed with.’
Last night one senior Tory said: ‘It is totally corrupt.’ Another added: ‘Basically, Cameron is taking the p*** here. He’s rewarded his cronies and to hell with everybody else.’
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said the resignation honours list – the first since John Major’s days – would ‘bring the honours system into disrepute’. Gongs for Remain supporters were rewards ‘for people who campaigned for something the British people rejected’, he added.
The reported award for Mr Straw triggered fury in the Leave camp. Tory MEP Daniel Hannan said: ‘For decades, gong-hungry corporatists and timeservers have backed the EU in the hope of preferment. This honours list is their last hurrah.’
Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said: ‘A lot of prime ministers have done dissolution honours in which they look after their friends, but Mr Cameron has gone well over the top.
‘It further devalues the system because honours are supposed to be related to genuine public service and it’s very difficult to argue that all of these people have met the criteria. I’m surprised Larry the cat didn’t get one.’
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage added: ‘David Cameron’s resignation honours list shows that it’s a good job he’s gone. Too many rewards for failure.’
Former UKIP leader said the list proved it was ‘good’ Cameron was gone and he was ‘rewarding failure’
Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith criticised the list and called for an overhaul of the honours system
Labour MP Paul Flynn, shadow leader of the Commons, tweeted: ‘Honours further dishonoured by Cameron giving his donors & cronies the same honour bestowed on SIR Jimmy Savile & SIR Cyril Smith.’
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron added: ‘David Cameron’s cronyism on this – which is what it is – dishonours the honours system’.
Even former pop sensation Right Said Fred took aim at Mr Cameron, writing on Twitter: ‘Two terms of Cameron and the cronyism lingers. Even his wife’s stylist gets a look in…’
There was plenty of anger vented on social media, with many reacting with disbelief at the list of possible appointments.
Jane Smith said: @David_Cameron s honours list must surely make us rise up against the whole corrupt system. An honour for Osborne is an insult to the poor.’
Mick Greenhough added: ‘@JuliaHB1 @David_Cameron All those with honours should have them removed then justify why they should have them returned.
Leader of the House of Commons David Lidington, left, and Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin, right, are also poised for knighthoods
Some even made jokes about the list calling for England Euro 2016 flop Raheem Sterling to get a nod
Some members of the public criticised the reports Samantha Cameron’s ‘stylist’ was due to get an honour
AN OBE FOR WOMAN WHO STYLED SAMANTHA’S HAIR
The woman who helped organise Samantha Cameron’s diary and style her hair and clothes is set to be awarded an OBE, it emerged last night.
Former PR executive Isabel Spearman, 37, was known as Mrs Cameron’s Girl Friday during her time as her ‘executive assistant’ in Downing Street.
Her tasks involved helping Mrs Cameron organise her diary, assist with her image and plan events. She was hired in 2010, prompting criticism from Labour of ‘vanity’ appointments, and left last summer to set up her own ‘brand consultancy’.
Another aide of Mrs Cameron’s, Kate Shouesmith, is said to be in line for an MBE.
Also reportedly nominated for an honour is the woman most famous for changing George Osborne’s hair and helping him to lose weight.
Isabel Spearman, pictured, is tipped to receive an OBE in Mr Cameron’s resignation honours list
Thea Rogers, who left the BBC go to work for the then Chancellor in 2012, introduced him to the 5:2 diet – which involves fasting for two days of the week – and was reportedly responsible for his ‘Caesar’ style haircut.
Miss Rogers was reportedly given the nickname ‘Pitbull’ over her sometimes abrasive manner. Her promotion last year to become Mr Osborne’s chief of staff saw her salary rise 42 per cent to £98,000 a year.
Mr Cameron has also requested that two of his drivers, Martha Gutierrez Verez and Sean Storey from the Government Car Service, are made MBEs.
The service, which costs about £6.3million a year, ferries around ministers, officials – and sometimes just their paperwork – in a fleet of cars.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Mr Cameron criticised the high costs of official cars.
Twitter user ‘Chris G’ added: ‘David Cameron’s resignation honours list is so bad, I half expected to see Raheem Sterling up for a knighthood…’
Spearman was known as Sam Cam’s ‘Girl Friday’ during the Cameron’s time at Downing Street, serving as ‘executive assistant’ to Britain’s First Lady and is line to be appointed OBE.
She was also known to run errands on behalf of the family and helped in looking after the couple’s three children, while assisting Samantha with her fashion choices.
The list was leaked and published in the Sunday Times and shows that Mr Cameron wants to shower a total of 48 aides, allies and Tory donors with gongs.
Thought to be top of the list for a knighthood is Mr Taylor, who has donated more than £1.6million to the Conservative Party and a further £350,000 to the Remain campaign.
Mr Taylor is the president and chief executive of the world’s largest oil trader Vitol and has worked in the oil industry for more than 30 years.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, he is worth £175million and donated almost £500,000 to Better Together during the Scottish Independence referendum campaign.
Meanwhile Mr Cook, chairman of engineering firm William Cook, is also set for a top honour.
Mr Cook was an avid Remain campaigner and said the EU vote was a setback for UK manufacturing, adding that Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, Leave campaigners, were ‘not fit’ to lead the Conservative Party.
He too has donated £1million to the party and gave the ‘In’ campaign £250,000 during the referendum.
Meanwhile, the four current cabinet members also proposed for knighthoods include the new Chancellor Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, leader of the House of Commons David Lidington and Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin.
Also poised to become dames are reportedly former cabinet minister Caroline Spelman and chief of staff to former prime minister John Major, Arabella Warburton.
George Osborne’s closest aide Thea Rogers will reportedly receive an OBE, while Will Straw, director of the ‘Remain’ campaign and son of Labour party grandee Jack Straw, will receive a CBE.
Memes also appeared on the internet criticising the list and claiming money was the motiviation
Even 90s pop sensation Right Said Fred took aim at the former prime minister, accusing him of ‘cronyism’
The leaked list comes after it was reported last week that several nominations have been blocked by mandarins over ethical concerns.
Concerns over those nominated for peerages were also raised by the Lords Appointments Commission which has to vet those being elevated to the Upper Chamber.
The list may have to be trimmed to ensure Mr Cameron gets as many of his appointments through as possible.
Downing Street had played down the prospect of an early resignation honours list, pointing out it was discretionary.
Whitehall made no attempt to deny the leaked list is genuine. The Cabinet Office said: ‘We do not comment on leaked documents’.
John Major was the last outgoing prime minister to push through a formal resignation honours list.
Tony Blair ran into trouble with his nominations list following the allegations of ‘cash for honours’ which sparked a lengthy police inquiry.
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