Former Prime Minister David Cameron has sparked a new controversy after allegedly recommending honours for 'undeserving people', sources have revealed.
Accused of 'cronyism' and 'devaluating the honours system', it is believed Mr Cameron drew up this list- to award titles including knighthoods, MBEs and OBEs to series of aides, including his wife Samantha's stylist, family friends and political allies such as several figures from the 'remain camp', including donors and ministers who tried to convince Britain to stay within EU. As one of his former ministers and key allies have reportedly admitted, this could perhaps be termed as Mr Cameron's final attempt to repay his 'old debts'.
The list of 48 names suggested include controversial figures such as businessmen Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook. Taylor's reputation includes questions over tax in one of his firms, an oil deal with Libyan rebels and links to a Serbian warlord, as well as being fined for busting UN sanctions on Iraq.
Interestingly Mr Cameron who has often claimed himself to be 'the first British Asian Prime Minister Britain has ever had', however he has not recommended any Asian or ethnic minority names in this honours list. This raises questions about the credibility of his famous concept (and belief) of a 'Big Society' and 'One Nation'- where contributions made by Asians have been always highlighted.
The most embarrassing faux pas for Mr Cameron has perhaps been the rejection by independent advisory committee of a recommended award for Michael Spencer, who raised an estimated £70mn for the Conservative party.
Successor Prime Minister Theresa May has however failed to endorse the controversial resignation honours list. Downing Street reportedly said the Prime Minister would not intervene in the official process because it would "set a very bad precedent".
However, Downing Street did not deny that Mrs May could block the controversial list at a later date, The Telegraph has reported.
Mr Cameron's nominations include remain camp supporters such as Philip Hammond and David Lidington who are in line to receive a KCMG, along with Hugo Swire. Other nominations include Michael Fallon for a knight commander of the Order of the Bath, a knighthood for Patrick McLoughlin, a CBE for Gavin Williamson and Will Straw, Nick Herbert and Daniel Korkski, an OBE for Charlotte Todman and the proposed list of Dames include Arabella Warburton and Caroline Spelman.
Civil Servants Helen Bower, the Prime Minister's official spokesperson, is also in line of receiving a CBE. On the leaked list there is a knighthood for Simon Case, an OBE for Tim Kiddell, a Companion of the Order of bath for Nicholas Howard and MBEs for Martha Gutierrez Verez and Sean Stores which were two of his drivers from the Government Car Services, which cost about £6.3mn a year.
Image makers Isabel Spearman, Thea Rogers, Lena Pietsch, Neil O'Brien have been also nominated for an OBE and Beverley Jane Robertson has been nominated for an MBE.
Widow of the Chairman of the West Oxfordshire Conservative Association Nicola Shale is also up for an MBE, according to the leaked information. Natasha Whitmill, Cameron's election agents in Whitney is nominated for an OBE and a CBE for Britain's richest man Tony Gallagher.
Former Downing Street director Craig Oliver is up for an honour, along with CBEs for Graeme Wilson, his press secretary and No 10 aide Ramsay Jones. Kathryn Jenknins is up for an OBE as is Sheridan Westlake, Alamn Sendorek and Julian Glover. The head of Broadcasting Caroline Preston is set for an MBE along with Tory tax free childcare policy architect Laura Trott, Media adviser Giles Kenningham, adviser Adam Atashzai, Kate Shouesmith, think tank deputy director Nick Seddon, the journalistturned Mr Cameron's speech writer Jessica Cunniffe, Richard Parr, Richard Jackson and adviser Martha Varney.
In 1976 Harold Wilson left Downing Street with a list of people wished to be honoured to mark his resignation as the PM. The nomination list included controversial business figures which became known as the Lavender List of Honours and is central to the way Mr Wilson and his premiership is now remembered. That painful experience should have been a warning for Mr Cameron.
The reported honours list has two serious flaws: one political and one personal. As the Telegraph pointed out, the political error is to favour supporters of the Remain camp. Brexit is over, results are settled. It is the duty of all politicians to unite behind the nation now.This underlines political division that are unhelpful and out of date. The personal mistake includes seeking honours for family retainers. Now his achievements as a Prime Minister is undermined by suspicion of cronyism.
However, the spirit of the critics have been left broken, when told that Sir Philip Green will not be stripped of his Knighthood (as yet), especially when they heard Larry, the famous Downing Street cat will not receive an honour!
