WATCH | UK’s Sunak faces down critics after Boris Johnson honours row

  • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended his decision to reject a plea from Boris Johnson to overturn a decision to allow for his allies to join parliament’s upper chamber. 
  • Rishi said Johnson asked him to do something that he “wasn’t prepared to do” because he didn’t think it was right. 
  • Boris resigned from parliament last week and like former prime minister was entitled to bestow honours that included a lifetime seat in parliament’s House of Lords. 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday he had rejected a plea from Boris Johnson to overrule an independent body and allow some of the former leader’s allies to join parliament’s upper chamber because he didn’t think it was right.

Responding to critics within his ruling Conservative Party, which has been rocked in recent days by Johnson’s dramatic Friday night decision to quit parliament, Sunak added that he had no sympathy for those who did not like his decision.

Former prime ministers such as Johnson are entitled to bestow honours, including a lifetime seat in parliament’s House of Lords, after they step down and it is not uncommon for British leaders to use their list to reward political allies.

But some of Johnson’s nominees were not included in a final list published on Friday after they failed to receive backing from the body that vets such appointments.

“Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasn’t prepared to do, because I didn’t think it was right,” Sunak said in his first public comments on the events of the last few days.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defends decision on Boris Johnson honours saga

“That was to either overrule the HOLAC committee (House of Lords Appointments Commission) or to make promises with people,” Sunak said, responding to a media question on whether he had intervened in the process.

Sunak has the power to overrule HOLAC’s advice, but said he chose not to.

If people don’t like that, then tough.

Johnson said Sunak’s version of events was “rubbish”.

“To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule HOLAC – but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality,” Johnson said in a statement.

As prime minister, Johnson himself overruled HOLAC when appointing a Conservative Party donor in 2020.

Despite being forced from power last year by a party revolt over his conduct, Johnson commands a loyal core of supporters in the Conservatives who regard him as a powerful vote-winner in parts of the country that others, like Sunak, cannot reach.

READ | UK government refuses to hand over WhatsApp messages to Covid-19 inquiry

Sunak, who served as finance minister under Johnson before playing a pivotal role in his downfall, has struggled to unify the party behind him ahead of a national election expected next year.

Johnson resigned from parliament on Friday in a protest against lawmakers investigating whether he misled parliament over illegal parties during Covid lockdowns at his Downing Street office when he was prime minister.

That coincided with the publication of his honours list, which itself triggered two other resignations, leaving Sunak battling to present a united party and facing difficult elections to replace all three. 


Related Posts

Ukraine has told world leaders gathered in London that it expects to secured billions to help rebuild the country.

Ukrainian drone strikes Russia’s Kursk, Zelensky says US business is ready to invest in Ukraine

Ukraine hit an administrative building in Kursk. The railway station was damaged in August. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US businessmen. A Ukrainian drone strike hit an…

Massive US alligator killed after police find woman's body still in its mouth

Massive US alligator killed after police find woman’s body still in its mouth

An alligator killed a woman in Florida. Authorities killed the 4m animal. The woman’s body was in the animal’s mouth. An alligator was killed as it was…

Philippines navy

‘Our maritime domains’: Philippines slams Chinese barrier in South China Sea

The Philippines accused China of installing a barrier in the South China Sea. The barrier prevents fishermen from accessing the Scarborough Shoal. China claims 90% of the…

'Let's get this done': Biden blames 'extreme Republicans' for threatening US government shutdown

‘Let’s get this done’: Biden blames ‘extreme Republicans’ for threatening US government shutdown

The US government faces a shutdown on 30 September. US President Joe Biden blamed Republicans for the impasse. He wants any budget to include $24 billion in…

Rupert Murdoch, global media mogul and conservative kingmaker

Rupert Murdoch, global media mogul and conservative kingmaker

The 92-year-old Murdoch announced he is stepping back from both News Corp and Fox, conglomerates which made him a billionaire. His eldest son Lachlan will become the…

The water at Terkos Dam has receded significantly.

Cattle graze in dry reservoirs as drought grips Istanbul

The water at Terkos Dam has receded significantly. Omer Urer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images In the 11 months to September, Turkey’s northwest received 23% less precipitation…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *