The prime minister is facing a mushrooming “honours for rejects” scandal as allegations emerge that he’s offering knighthoods to some of the ministers he’s just booted out of the cabinet.
The Evening Standard is reporting that the PM will recommend for knighthood Alan Duncan (former international development minister), Hugh Robertson (former foreign office minister and former Olympics minister) and Oliver Heald (former solicitor general).
Cameron is reportedly also putting forward Kenneth Clarke for the Companion of Honour, one of the highest Queen’s honours it is possible to achieve.
The moves are already being dubbed “honours for rejects”, and Labour’s Stephen Pound MP has accused the PM of “using honours to sweeten the pill of dismissal” in an “abuse” of the system.
Cameron was questioned about the controversy in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday by Labour, and replied that it “was always interesting to take a lecture from a party that gave a knighthood to Fred Goodwin”.
He added: “I make no apology for saying that I think in public life we should recognise public service, people who have worked hard, people who have contributed to our nation, contributed to our government. I think that is a good thing to do.”
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