Top figures involved in the honours process have claimed they faced pressure from No10 to hand gongs to favoured candidates, including a Tory donor.
Former members of the Honours Committees told Channel 4 that they felt that Downing Street was trying to influence their decisions - and when they pushed back, they were told their services were no longer required.
Dame Louise Casey, who currently chairs the Community and Voluntary Service Committee which awards the majority of honours, wrote a damning email to the Cabinet Office earlier this month warning about the “politicalisation” of the system.
