Boris Johnson is set to go ahead with a list of honorable resignations before he leaves Downing Street, it has been confirmed, after speculation it could include gongs for Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and former Daily Mail editor Paul Daker, among others.
Asked about the prospects for such a list, Johnson’s official spokesman said he could not comment on details but that it was “convention” for outgoing prime ministers to confer knighthoods and appoint members of the House of Lords.
“I have no update for you on this matter definitively. I have seen some speculation,” he said when asked about the idea. “It’s a convention – people who can be nominated in recognition of their public or political service, and prime ministers draw up similar lists, but I don’t know specifically about that at this stage.”
Asked about reports that the prime minister’s list could be long, the official said: “I don’t believe there have been any substantive discussions on it at this stage.”
He said he was “unaware” of Johnson planning to knight his father, Stanley Johnson.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, Johnson is considering elevating Doris to the Lords alongside Allegra Stratton, who resigned as his communications chief after he was filmed joking about No 10 parties.
Dacre, who is now editor-in-chief of the Mail’s parent company, is also in the running for the title.
The Liberal Democrats have written to the House of Lords appointments committee and the cabinet honors committee, urging them both to block any resignation honors proposed by Johnson, arguing the prime minister is too tainted to do so.
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“Boris Johnson has no honor so he does not deserve an honors list to resign,” said Wendy Chamberlain, the party’s top leader.
“Any candidate for Conservative Party leadership should come out and oppose Johnson getting an honors list and confirm they will turn down a gong if he offers them one.
“A prime minister forced out of office because of his own lies, corruption and law-breaking should not be allowed to hand out honors to his friends on the way out. There should be no more rewards for failure.”
Johnson has previously been criticized for his peer nominations. In an earlier list, he nominated his brother Joe, suspended MP Zach Goldsmith, a close family friend, and Yevgeny Lebedev, a newspaper owner who is also a friend.
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