Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Resignation Honours Lists: Impact

Thursday 22 June 2023 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues frequently discuss various issues including the impact of resignation honours lists on public trust.
  • The list prepared by the outgoing Prime Minister has been approved by the sovereign and is not being rescinded.
  • Reports of unacceptable behaviour at a Christmas party do not affect the outcome of an individual receiving a life peerage.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

MP raised concerns about the publication of resignation honours lists and their potential to erode public trust in politicians and institutions.

Question

Whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the publication of the resignation honours lists of the right hon. Member for South West Norfolk and the former right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on public trust in (a) politicians and (b) political institutions.

Answer from Alex Burghart

My Cabinet colleagues and I have frequent conversations about a range of issues, with a range of colleagues. To the question that the hon. Lady is pushing on, she will have heard me say that there is a long-standing convention, under successive Governments, that outgoing Prime Ministers can draw up a resignation list.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions about impact on public trust were not addressed

How: Frequent Conversations, Range Of Issues

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

MP questioned the Minister about steps to rescind Boris Johnson's resignation honours list and whether he agrees with Parliament's judgment on Monday.

Question

I can now say this without being told off, as was the case a year ago this month: the disgraced, dishonest and serial-lying Boris Johnson should categorically not be given any resignation honours list—period. What steps is the Minister taking to rescind this democratic outrage? If he is not taking any, does he agree with Parliament's judgment on Monday, given that he chose to abstain on the vote?

Answer from Alex Burghart

The list is not being rescinded. It has gone to the sovereign and has been approved.

Answered
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Q3 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

MP questioned whether a life peerage should be given to Shaun Bailey despite his Christmas party event during lockdown and previous election failures.

Question

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The failed London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has been given a life peerage in Boris Johnson's list, despite his “Jingle and Mingle” 2020 Christmas party. Does the Minister agree that someone who has failed to be elected on three occasions and flouted the laws that the rest of us stuck to during lockdown should not be offered a life peerage?

Answer from Alex Burghart

The honourable gentleman in question, as the hon. Lady will know, was also a very long-standing member of the London Assembly, and was successfully elected on a number of occasions to fill that role. Obviously, reports of the party in question are unacceptable. We condemn that event, but as she will have heard me say to her colleague, the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Marion Fellows), the list has gone to the sovereign and been approved.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on offering a life peerage was not addressed

How: Long-Standing Member Of The London Assembly, Successfully Elected

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Q4 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

MP questioned why more power and privilege is being awarded to those who have caused economic hardship, specifically Elizabeth Truss.

Question

There is a bit of unedifying silliness in the Chamber this morning. We are absolutely beside ourselves that we seemingly cannot do anything about this, and the Government are not taking any responsibility. Just because something has been convention since 1985 does not mean that we should continue doing it. If the antics of the dishonourable member for the Chiltern hundreds were not bad enough, convention now dictates that the 49-day former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss), who crashed the economy, which directly contributed to the mortgage rate rises that people are struggling with, will also get to make nominations. Why is even more power and privilege being awarded to those who have caused untold misery and hardship?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer that I gave a few moments ago.

Not addressed: Specific reasons for awarding power and privilege were not addressed

How: Refer The Hon. Lady To The Answer

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