Boris Johnson's close allies appear on resignation honours list

Many of Boris Johnson’s closest allies have been rewarded in his resignation honours list which has been released today.

The former Prime Minister has handed peerages to former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, they will now take a seat in the House of Lords.

Former cabinet ministers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel were given a knighthood and a damehood respectively.

Other close allies of Mr Johnson were also given honours, including former housing secretary Simon Clarke and MPs Conor Burns and Michael Fabricant.

Former co-chairman of the Conservative Party Ben Elliot and William Lewis, a political adviser to Mr Johnson, are also in line to become knights bachelors.

Former home secretary Priti Patel has been nominated for a damehood, along with former ministers Andrea Jenkyns and Amanda Milling.

The former head of operations at No 10, Shelley Williams-Walker, will also receive a damehood, along with Mr Johnson’s former personal assistant, Ann Sindall.

Noticeable names not on the list

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma, president of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, were absent from the list, following reports the Government cut them at the 11th hour to swerve potentially damaging by-elections in their seats.

But Ms Dorries earlier announced she was standing down as an MP “with immediate effect”, triggering an early election battle in her Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Rishi Sunak 'had no involvement'

Downing Street appeared to try to distance Rishi Sunak from Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said: “As is convention, the Prime Minister forwarded the former Prime Minister’s peerage list to Holac unaltered.

“Holac then passed back their approved list.

“The Prime Minister then accepted Holac’s approved list and forwarded it unamended to the Sovereign for their approval.

“He had no involvement or input into the approved list.

“It is a point of fact that it is made public by the Commission if a Prime Minister overrules the Commission’s advice.”

Full list of those given peerages

Mr Johnson handed peerages to former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, while giving staunch loyalists Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel a knighthood and a damehood respectively.

Benjamin Gascoigne, a former deputy chief of staff to the ex-prime minister will enter the House of Lords alongside Ross Kempsell, a former political director of the Conservative Party.

Charlotte Owen, a former adviser to Mr Johnson, will become one of the youngest peers, while Kulveer Singh Ranger, a former director of transport while Boris Johnson was London mayor, will also be elevated to the Lords.

Former No 10 chief of staff Dan Rosenfield will also enter the upper chamber.

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