Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours to be probed by MPs
Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list is likely to be probed by a new Commons inquiry into appointments to the House of Lords, i has learned.
The former prime minister’s list of peerages and a row with Rishi Sunak over whether MPs Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams should have been elevated to the Lords is likely to be covered by the scope of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) investigation, insiders told i.
The probe could see Mr Johnson and Ms Dorries being called to give evidence on the ex-PM’s resignation honours.
It came after Mr Johnson and some of those he honoured faced fierce criticism from senior Tories.
Ex-minister Tobias Ellwood called on Shaun Bailey to consider handing back the peerage given to him by Mr Johnson after video footage sparked new anger over a mid-lockdown party attended by the failed mayoral candidate.
The MP said there were “big questions” around Mr Bailey’s peerage, adding on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Absolutely he needs to consider that, if I’m frank.”
He said that Rishi Sunak should “grasp” the issue of peerages, adding: “You can’t simply have prime ministers stuffing the Lords with their friends.”
Mr Ellwood added: “If there’s anything to come of this I really encourage Mr Sunak to now draw a line under Boris Johnson’s tenure and indeed influence over the parliamentary party.
“There’s an opportunity now for the Prime Minister to draw a line, to continue the progress that he’s already made, further stamp his personality by dealing and confronting things like this directly.”
Mr Ellwood’s criticism followed Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt’s suggestion there had been a “debasement of the honours system” by Mr Johnson.
Several aides embroiled in Partygate allegations were handed gongs in the controversial honours list.
Former No 10 advisers Charlotte Owen and Ross Kempsell were elevated to the Lords, where the pair will become the youngest and second youngest peers – while backbench Tory MPs Andrea Jenkyns and Michael Fabricant were handed a damehood and knighthood.
Mr Johnson’s list of peerages sparked a major row, with former culture secretary Nadine Dorries accusing Rishi Sunak of meddling to block her peerage. Despite announcing her “immediate” resignation as an MP, she has since threatened to delay this until she has seen all correspondence between officials about her nomination.
Committee insiders said the row was likely to be included in the PACAC probe into the membership of the Lords, including the appointments process, its size, and the role and responsibilities of peers.
The committee will examine whether the rules governing appointments should be improved and the role and powers of the independent vetting body, the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC), which has been central in the row involving Ms Dorries.
A committee spokeswoman said: “Debates around reforming the House of Lords have been around for decades.
“Whilst the committee agreed to take forward this inquiry in March, the recent publication of the resignation peerages makes this inquiry more timely.”
