RISHI Sunak is facing calls to veto Boris Johnson’s honours list – thought to include his staunchest allies and his own father.
The SNP have said the former prime minister has made a “complete mockery of the honours system” amid reports he is set to ennoble die-hard supporters such as Nadine Dorries and even make his dad Stanley Johnson a peer.
Sunak has been told to scrap the list “without delay”. Doing so would deprive Dorries and Stanley Johnson a seat in the House of Lords, it is understood.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack was reportedly on Johnson's list of honours, but declined the offer to move into the House of Lords.
Jack was accused of a "sleazy backroom deal with Rishi Sunak" by the SNP, who suggested he delayed the peerage in an effort to avoid a by-election in his Dumfries and Galloway seat.
It comes after Labour branded the list a “carousel of cronies” and suggested Sunak giving it the green light would be a demonstration of weakness.
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock told Sky News: “Some of the people on that list, it just looks like a carousel of Boris Johnson's cronies, and frankly the Prime Minister has caved in yet again because there's warring factions in the Conservative Party."
Nadine Dorries was one of the Johnson loyalists named in his resignation honours
Tommy Sheppard, the SNP’s constitution spokesperson, said: “Boris Johnson has made a complete mockery of the honours system, just like he a made a complete mockery of British politics.
"His attempt to nominate charlatans like Nadine Dorries, Alister Jack - and even his own father - to the House of Lords sums up the arrogance of the man – and highlights in no uncertain terms how corrupt the system is.
"Rishi Sunak must scrap Boris Johnson’s entire honours list - and do so without delay.
"This corrupt, crony-ridden Westminster system - including the honours system - is completely outdated and unfit for purpose.
“And with pro-Brexit Labour U-turning on their pledge to overhaul the system, there is no sign of any radical changes happening in the future.
"Only the SNP are offering voters real change through independence, which would rid Scotland of undemocratic institutions like the House of Lords for good.”
