The publication of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list has sparked controversy after some loyal supporters tipped for rewards were not included.
It is conventional for outgoing Prime Ministers to nominate allies to receive honours. Nine months after his resignation amid the Partygate scandal, Mr Johnson’s list included 38 honours and seven peerages — but one of his closest allies, Nadine Dorries, did not appear on the list.
The former Cabinet Minister has since claimed that “sinister forces” prevented her from receiving a peerage. Writing in the Daily Mail last week she claimed that she would have been made a dame, but it was jeopardised.
In her comment piece, the former Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport accused Mr Sunak and his team of removing her name from the list, claiming that they were focused on “personalities and petty grievances” rather than “the economy or the running of our public services”.
Mr Johnson’s recommendations were sent to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) which vets appointments before being passed to Mr Sunak who “forward it unamended” to King Charles, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said. HOLAC said on Sunday that it would “not comment on individuals” but eight peerage nominees submitted had not been supported.
READ MORE: Nadine Dorries creates confusion as she demands answers before she resigns
In response to Ms Dorries’s reaction, Express.co.uk ran a poll from 11.45am on Wednesday, June 14, to 2pm on Tuesday, June 20, asking readers: “Should Nadine Dorries have received a peerage?”
Overall, 9,180 readers responded with the majority, 56 percent (5,152 people) answering “no” Ms Dorries should not have been honoured. In contrast, 43 percent (3,909 people) said “yes” and a further one percent (119 people) said they did not know.
Below the accompanying article, readers shared their thoughts on Ms Dorries’s omission, with username kryton writing: “A peerage for what? She is the most useless of the useless.”
Similarly, username cynic2 questioned her merit, adding: “Why should she. What has she done to deserve it?”
Other readers agreed that Ms Dorries should have received an honour. Username whateveryousay remarked: “Yes she certainly should have. She’s held two ministerial posts. She was right about the BBC. It’s an utter disgrace not giving this woman her peerage.”
Another, username RY28, thought that Ms Dorries was deserving, writing: “If Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg received his knighthood because of his loyalty to Boris. Then on that basis, it’s only fair and right that Nadine should receive her just reward too.”
Mr Johnson’s right to have a resignation honours list has also been criticised amid his Partygate investigation. Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said that it was “shameful” Mr Sunak has “failed to stand up to his former boss’s outrageous demands and agreed to hand out prizes to this carousel of cronies”
She continued: “He promised integrity, but this weak prime minister is once again showing his appalling judgement by doing Boris Johnson’s bidding.”
Mr Johnson’s new peers will join the more than 800 existing members of the House of Lords. Express.co.uk readers also shared their dismay at the nominations, with many commenting that the system should be abolished.
Username amimissingsomething remarked that his “whole list should have been binned”.
Likewise, username Harmful said: “No, none of them should, peerages should be done away with forever.” And username rafar666 said: “Nobody should receive a peerage. Ridiculous, undemocratic system.”
