Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Resignation Honours Lists

Thursday 11 May 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • It is a long-standing convention that outgoing Prime Ministers can draw up a resignation honours list.
  • Any names proposed in the honours list are subject to propriety checks.
  • An Electoral Reform Society poll found that only 7% of people supported the practice of adding more peers to the Lords through resignation honours lists.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gavin Newlands SNP
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Electoral Reform Society poll found that only 7% of people supported the former Prime Minister's resignation honours list, which included controversial peers.

Question

Whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the impact of the publication of the resignation honours lists on public trust in (a) politicians and (b) political institutions. An Electoral Reform Society poll found that just 7% of people supported stuffing more peers into the Lords, after he had already bloated the Lords with his brother, a Russian oligarch, cash-for-peerages Tory treasurers and now his father.

Answer from Jeremy Quin

It is a long-standing convention present under successive Governments that outgoing Prime Ministers can draw up a resignation list. Any names proposed are subject to the usual propriety checks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about blocking the honours lists was not addressed.

How: Congratulating The Snp On Finding An Auditor

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Q2 Gavin Newlands SNP
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Electoral Reform Society poll found that only 7% of people supported the former Prime Minister's resignation honours list, which included controversial peers.

Question

An Electoral Reform Society poll found that just 7% of people supported stuffing more peers into the Lords in the former former Prime Minister's resignation honours list. After just seven weeks in office, the former Prime Minister is seeking to anoint her Tufton Street supporters in the Institute of Economic Affairs and the TaxPayers Alliance as life peers. In a cost of living crisis, will the Government listen to the public and block both the Prime Minister's predecessors' resignation honours lists?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

As I say, this is a long-standing convention that has gone on under successive Administrations. It continues to be a convention. It is typical, according to convention, that the Prime Minister forwards lists on having received them from former Prime Ministers, but only after they have gone through the necessary and relevant checks; that does take place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about blocking the honours lists was not addressed.

How: Congratulating The Snp On Finding An Auditor

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