Liz Truss might bestow knighthoods and peerages upon her closest associates as part of a controversial resignation honours list, after sitting as Prime Minister for less than two months.
Mark Fullbrook, the previous premier’s chief of staff, is believed to have recommended that she honor her departing staff and advisors with awards.
Despite her disastrously brief reign, key members of Miss Truss’s team and major funders may be awarded knighthoods or peerages.
Mr. Fullbrook and special adviser Jason Stein, who was suspended last week for a scathing briefing about Sajid Javid, could be in line for honors.
Policy adviser Jamie Hope, director of strategy Iain Carter, economic adviser Matthew Sinclair, and deputy chief of staff Ruth Porter are all mentioned.
Last night, it was even alleged that Fullbrook himself had sought for an honor, although individuals close to the former adviser disputed this.
According to Downing Street sources, it would be customary for a departing prime minister to give such a list.
Opposition parties have already broadly embraced the proposal.
The Electoral Reform Society’s Willie Sullivan stated, “If Liz Truss chooses to cram the Lords with new peers upon leaving office, it will only further erode Westminster’s credibility at a time when public faith in politics is already strained.”
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is photographed outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, October 25 as she formally resigns after a disastrously brief term in office.
A moving van is spotted delivering former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s things to her family home outside Downing Street.
Mark Fullbrook, the former premier’s chief of staff (pictured), is believed to have urged that she grant peerages to her departing staff and advisors. Last night, sources close to the consultant denied he had campaigned for his own award.
On her final weekend in office, the outgoing Prime Minister hosted a series of farewell events for MPs and employees at Chequers.
The retiring prime minister, who resigned last week following a catastrophic tenure at No. 10, had a series of farewell parties at his Buckinghamshire mansion.
It was suggested that her proposed honours list could be as controversial as Harold Wilson’s infamous “Lavender List” from 1976, which included a number of wealthy businessmen as winners.
The list of resignation honors for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not yet been published.
It comes days after a backlash erupted over Miss Truss’s contentious pay deal in the wake of her premiership’s catastrophic fall.
Following her departure after only 44 days in office, the former prime minister would get a compensation of about £20,000 and an annual allowance of up to £115,000.
In 1991, following Margaret Thatcher’s departure, the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) was instituted to “help former prime ministers continuing active in public life.”
A London-based moving vehicle is spotted in front of Whitehall on Tuesday, the day Rishi Sunak was declared as Britain’s youngest-ever prime minister.
Liz Truss, shown departing Downing Street on Friday, held a series of farewell parties at Chequers over the weekend.
A Downing Street source disclosed the prime minister thanked MPs and staff at a 16th-century Buckinghamshire manor estate at her own expense.
They are entitled to the money for life, unless they accept another public position.
In order to get the payment, former prime ministers must provide supporting documentation, such as staff payroll information and travel receipts.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, stated that it would be “appropriate” for Miss Truss not to collect any of the allowance.
He said, “She’s served 44 days in office, therefore she’s not really entitled to it; she should decline it.”
In the meantime, the Liberal Democrats have been accused of hypocrisy for urging Miss Truss to decline the £115,000 yearly allowance, despite the fact that their previous leader Sir Nick Clegg collected it for four years after his party was wiped out in 2015.
Sir Tony Blair continues to receive the maximum allowance despite being a millionaire. One Conservative legislator stated, “The hypocrisy of the Left is always astounding. It has no limits.’