David Cameron defied accusations of cronyism today to confer honours and peerages on allies including former Tory MPs caught up in the expenses scandal.
Douglas Hogg, who claimed for the upkeep of his moat, is among seven former Tory MPs who were ordered to repay the taxpayer after they wrongly claimed expenses for their second homes.
The prime minister’s dissolution honours list, finally unveiled today, includes gongs for a host of No 10 staff, including two catering assistants and a gardener, as well as key aides to George Osborne, the chancellor.
Former special advisors – known in Westmister as spads – dominated both the list of new peers and those awarded honours for political service. As expected those ennobled include Catherine Fall, Mr Cameron’s “gatekeeper”, and James O’Shaughnessy, his former policy chief. Stephen Gilbert, his political secretary and a key figure in the election campaign also becomes a lord.
Former MPs rewarded with a place in the upper chamber include William Hague, Andrew Lansley and David Willetts. Long-time Cameron allies Andrew Robathan and Greg Barker are among 26 new Tory peers.
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The inclusion of Mr Hogg will raise eyebrows. He became notorious during the 2008 parliamentary expenses scandal after he claimed £2,200 for the cleaning of his moat on his country estate.
Other former Tory MPs caught up in the scandal include Anne McIntosh, Mr Barker, James Arbuthnot and Mr Lansley. Their inclusion in the list follows reports that David Laws, the former Liberal Democrat education minister, had his nomination rejected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission because of a past expenses controversy. Altogether 13 of the 24 former MPs from all parties on the new peers list were required to repay expenses.
The Conservative donor and former vice-treasurer, James Lupton has been granted a peerage, and the businesswoman Michelle Mone.
The former chancellor Alistair Darling and home secretary David Blunkett are among high-profile Labour figures to join the House of Lords. As revealed by The Times, Tessa Jowell has accepted a peerage despite her campaign to become Labour’s candidate in the London mayoral election next year. Ed Miliband has also nominated Spencer Livermore, who helped run Labour’s election campaign which resulted in its worst defeat since 1983.
A total of 45 new peers, 26 Tory, 11 Liberal Democrat and eight for Labour swells the total active membership of the House of Lords to more than 800. Mr Cameron, who has created more peers than any other modern prime minister, defends the influx on the grounds it should more accurately reflect the political make-up of the Commons.
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With no mechanism for forcing peers to stand down, however, constitutional experts complain of an “out of control” expansion. Taxpayers, meanwhile, face higher bills in accommodation, support and other expenses as well as the cost of the £300 a day attendance allowance for which they are eligible.
A slew of past and present Tory aides and advisers have also been rewarded for their service with other honours. Oliver Dowden, a former Downing Street adviser and now an MP; Liz Sugg, Mr Cameron’s head of operations, and Rupert Harrison, Mr Osborne’s former chief of staff have been awarded CBEs.
Mr Osborne’s former media adviser Ramesh Chhabra and Mr Hague’s former adviser Denzil Davidson are among those receiving OBEs for “public service”.
Nick Clegg, the former Liberal Democrat leader has also rewarded his inner circle. Jonny Oates, his former deputy chief of staff is another of the so-called “spadocracy” to be given a peerage.