David Cameron has been accused of the “worst kind of cronyism” after a number of people close to him, including a City public relations executive and an ex-deputy chairman of his local party, have been rewarded in the New Year’s honours.
Other recipients include a property tycoon who has given tens of thousands of pounds to George Osborne's local party and a volunteer who chairs a supper club in Mr Cameron's west Oxfordshire constituency.
Labour MP John Mann criticised the awards. He said: “This is the worst kind of cronyism. It brings the whole of the honours system into disrepute. Honours should be for the people not for party polities and their supporters.”
Alan Parker, chairman of Brunswick Group, a PR company, who Mr Cameron holidayed with in South Africa in 2008 before he became Prime Minister, is made a knight.
Earlier this month Sir Alan was among a 100-strong party of businessmen who flew to China on Mr Cameron’s high profile trade delegation. Mr Parker has been knighted for his services to business and charitable giving.
Karren Brady, the businesswoman who was on the same China trip, is also honoured, receiving a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business. Miss Brady has been fighting off Tory attempts to persuade her to fight a safe seat at the next election.
Ian Cheshire, chief executive of Kingfisher, a retailing company, is also knighted, for services to Business, Sustainability and the Environment. Sir Ian is a member of the Prime Minister’s business taskforce.
Marion Dowding, who until recently was the deputy chairman (political) in Mr Cameron’s Oxfordshire Conservative Association, is given an OBE for voluntary political service.
Mrs Dowding is now chairman of the West Oxfordshire Conservative Association's Supper Club, in Mr Cameron’s Witney constituency.
Peter Emerson Jones, who has donated tens of thousands of pounds to George Osborne's local party through his companies, is also made a knight for services to business in the North West.
Electoral Commission records show that Sir Peter's company Emerson Developments has donated more than £35,000 to Tatton Conservatives since 2008.
Conservative party workers are also honoured, with an OBE going to Trevor Mort, the chairman of the party’s Conservative Party Disciplinary Committee. Maureen Hyde, Mr Mort’s predecessor on the committee, receives an MBE. Both are honoured for voluntary political service.
Other more junior honours are going to Mr Cameron’s cleaners in 10 Downing Street.
Henrietta Shorter, a cleaner in 10 Downing Street, is given a British Empire Medal “for services to the Prime Minister's Office”. The medal is the lowest of the honours and was reintroduced by the Government last year.
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:45 am