Boris Johnson has fuelled fears he’s planning TWO crony honours lists - putting uber-loyalist Nadine Dorries and ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre in the Lords.
The Prime Minister refused to deny fresh reports he is drawing up a bumper list of gongs before he leaves office.
He even boasted “everybody who has served this government loyally and well” would be recognised.
Mr Johnson has already created 43 Tory peers since he entered No10 - compared to 26 by Theresa May in less time.
Since taking office he has regularly issued “ad-hoc” political honours lists to bump up the second chamber, including several of his cronies.
But as a departing PM he can also issue a separate “Resignation Honours” list - despite being forced out in scandal.
Ex-PM Harold Wilson’s became known as the ‘Lavender List’ because he rewarded a string of close allies and loyalists.
Both Downing Street and the Prime Minister today refused to rule out the PM issuing two honours lists, and refused to deny work had started.
Billionaire Tory donor Michael Hintze, Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames and Cabinet ultra-loyalist Nigel Adams could also be rewarded, the Sun reported.
There could also be gongs for a slew of No10 staff.
SNP MP John Nicolson asked: “Can he update his on his defenestration honours list? How many of his cronies will he ennoble?
“Can we expect him to surpass Harold Wilson with a Lavender List of dodgy donors, obsequious courtiers, and pinchers by nature?”
The PM replied: “I’m sure everybody who has served this government loyally and well deserves recognition of some kind.
“But as for the honours list, I’m afraid he’ll have to contain his excitement.”
Downing Street refused to add to “speculation”.
The PM’s Press Secretary said: “More broadly, it’s long-standing convention that individuals can be nominated for an honour or peerage in recognition of their public or political service.”
Asked if all government loyalists would be recognised she replied: “I think he was talking about broader recognition. And you will have heard he thanked everyone, all of his his colleagues for everything they have done it to help drive forward the government's agenda for the last three years.”
No10 told The Sun “all honours are approved by proper process”.
But the PM overruled advice to give a Lords seat to Tory ex-Treasurer Peter Cruddas, who then donated £500,000 to the party days later.
The PM is also said to have batted aside concerns about ennobling media mogul Evgeny Lebedev.
Mr Lebedev is the son of billionaire ex-KGB agent Alexander, and hosted the future PM at what has been described as a “weekend-long party” in 2018.
Mr Johnson was spotted dishevelled and without his security detail at San Francesco d’Assisi airport the next day. Years later he finally admitted he met Mr Lebedev’s father - without officials present.
Hedge fund boss David Harding, who has pumped more than £1.5million into the Tory war chest since 2006, was previously knighted for “services to philanthropy”.
Billionaire former treasurer of the Conservative Party Michael Spencer was among the 19 receiving a Tory peerage in July 2020.
Daniel Moylan, aviation advisor to Mr Johnson as London Mayor when he championed a failed "Boris Island" airport, was given a peerage in 2020.
Also given a peerage in 2020 was his former boss, Charles Moore. A dinner between the two in November 2021 arguably began a chain of events that led to the PM’s downfall - as after the meal Mr Johnson defended Owen Paterson over sleaze claims.
Another long-time City Hall ally, Eddie Lister was handed a peerage by Boris Johnson in autumn 2020.
And Tony Gallagher, a millionaire property developer and donor who hosted David Cameron's 50th birthday party, was knighted by Boris Johnson in autumn 2020.
