PM accused of abuse of honours system as 'shuffled' ministers are put up for knighthoods

David Cameron has been accused of abusing the honours system

Joe Murphy @JoeMurphyLondon|Political Editor

16 July 2014

David Cameron was accused of “abusing” the honours system today after the Evening Standard learned he is recommending knighthoods to three ministers who left their posts this week.

Two Conservative MPs are in line to be made Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

They are Alan Duncan, who left his post as International Development Minister, and Hugh Robertson, who was a Foreign Office Minister and former Olympics Minister.

Oliver Heald, who was Solicitor General until Monday night’s pre-shuffle cull of “male and pale” ministers, will get a knighthood.

It is also emerging that veteran minister Kenneth Clarke, 74, is being chosen for one of the highest honours in the gift of the Queen, which is to become a Companion of Honour.

This elite order is reserved for the Sovereign and just 65 ordinary members at any time, and is conferred for service of national importance independently of Downing Street. Recipients include painter Lucian Freud, Professor Stephen Hawking, naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and ex-premier Sir John Major.

While Mr Clarke’s honour was generally approved, Labour said the knighthoods showed that Mr Cameron was using the system to reward ministers who went quietly.

London MP Stephen Pound said: “I’ve nothing against long-service medals but using honours to sweeten the pill of dismissal is an abuse.”

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: “David Cameron has now sacked and then knighted more men than he’s appointed women to the Cabinet. This patronage for the old boys’ club shows just how out of touch Cameron is. Dishing out honours and gongs as golden goodbyes to keep his sacked ministers happy not only undermines the honours process, but also shows yet again how the Prime Minister overlooks and forgets about women.”

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street declined to comment.

PM accused of abuse of honours system as 'shuffled' ministers are put up for knighthoods

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