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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Ashley Cowburn

Rishi Sunak set to 'accept' Boris Johnson's honours' list - who we know will get a gong

Rishi Sunak has been urged to put Boris Johnson's 50-strong resignation honours' list through the shredder.

It comes amid reports the ex-PM's list of peerages and gongs could finally be published within the next fortnight - despite calls for Mr Sunak to block the appointments.

According to The Times the PM wants to "clear the decks" and is poised to approve the controversial list to his allies and friends.

Previous reports have suggested that Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries is in line for a peerage alongside the Tory MP and ex-President of the climate summit - Cop26 - Alok Sharma.

It would cause a headache for Mr Sunak as both MPs would have to resign from the Commons to take up a peerage - triggering by-elections in the autumn.

While Ms Dorries had a majority of over 20,000 votes at the 2019 election, Mr Sharma's majority stood at just 4,117 and could fall to Keir Starmer's party.

The ex-PM has nominated a host of allies from his time in No10 (Getty Images)

The long-awaited honours list is expected to include Tory donors but has been slimmed down from 100 names that were first submitted.

Gongs are also expected to be awarded to Guto Harri - Mr Johnson former spin doctor during his final months in No10 - and press aide Ross Kempsell.

Earlier this year the former PM was accused of making a "mockery" of the honours system for nominating his father Stanley Johnson for a knighthood.

Quizzed on the honours list, Mr Sunak told reporters in Washington DC: "I can completely understand the interest in this topic.

"All I can say is there's a process that is currently underway, it hasn't concluded yet and until it does, it wouldn't be right for me to comment any further.”

A spokesperson for Mr Johnson also told The Mirror: "We do not comment on honours".

Mr Johnson was forced from office last summer and is still yet to learn the outcome of a probe into whether he recklessly misled MPs' over the Partygate scandal.

If the Privileges Committee finds against him, Mr Johnson faces being suspended from the Commons and a possible by-election in his marginal constituency.

Mr Johnson was accused of making a 'mockery' of the honours system for nominating his father Stanley Johnson for a knighthood (AFP via Getty Images)

The list of gongs to allies is not expected to be published alongside the King's Birthday Honours list - but it could also pave the way for another ex-PM's list to be published.

Liz Truss, the 49-day PM who almost crashed the economy, has also submitted her list to Mr Sunak and is reported to include around a dozen names.

In March it was reported the shortest-serving PM in British history had requested peerages for close allies in her No10 operation in what was branded a "list of shame".

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