By Ben Kerrigan-
Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister, Liz Truss, has revealed her resignation honours list, presenting nominations to political allies and supporters- eight people in all.
Truss, who spent a mere 49 days in office, has drawn sharp criticism for the inclusion of Conservative donor Jon Moynihan and ex-Vote Leave chief Matthew Elliott in the list, both nominated for seats in the House of Lords.
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The contentious decision has sparked calls for intervention from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, with accusations that the honours are rewards for political allegiance rather than contributions to public service.
Among the nominees is Ruth Porter, a former senior aide to Truss, who has been made a peer. The list also features political supporters and former aides, prompting Willie Sullivan, senior director for campaigns at the Electoral Reform Society, to comment: “It will feel like an insult to many to see Liz Truss handing out peerages to friends and supporters after her disastrously short stint as prime minister.
‘It looks like the political class dishing out rewards for failure at a time when many people are still suffering the effects from her turbulent premiership.”
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The list, announced concurrently with the New Year Honours list, includes other notable names such as Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke, a former defence procurement minister who supported Truss’s Tory leadership campaign.
Shelbrooke is also set to receive a knighthood, while Thurrock Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price, a longstanding friend of Truss, becomes a dame.
Novelist Shirley Conran, the only non-political figure on the list, is to become a dame for services to mathematics education as the founder of the charity Maths Anxiety Trust.
The controversial decisions have reignited debates over the honours system, with critics arguing that it risks undermining the credibility of the system meant to recognize outstanding public service.
Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, Jonathan Ashworth, asserted, “Honours should be for those committed to public service, not rewards for Tory failure.”
Similarly, Deputy Lib Dem leader Daisy Cooper remarked, “Truss handing out gongs after blowing a hole in the public finances and leaving families reeling from spiralling mortgage costs calls this whole honours system into disrepute.”
Truss, who was compelled to step down as prime minister in October 2022 after her mini-budget caused economic turmoil, defended her choices, stating: “I am delighted these champions for the conservative causes of freedom, limited government, and a proud and sovereign Britain have been suitably honoured.”
Downing Street has insisted that Truss’s list underwent the usual scrutiny and was released simultaneously with the New Year’s Honours due to its recent finalization.
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