Rishi Sunak’s latest resignation honours list has sparked criticism from opposition parties, with veteran Conservative politician Michael Gove being awarded a peerage amidst accusations of rewarding ‘political flunkies’ who have failed in their previous roles.
Veteran Conservative politician Michael Gove , who was sacked by Boris Johnson in July 2022, has been awarded a peerage by Rishi Sunak in the latest resignation honours list. This move has sparked criticism from opposition parties, with some labeling it an ‘ID parade of political flunkies.‘
Gove’s rise to prominence
Gove retired as an MP at the last election and had previously served as education secretary, environment secretary, and housing secretary. However, he never held a great office of state. His appointment to the peerage opens the door to a potential return to Conservative politics in the future.
Michael Gove is a British politician, journalist, and author.
He was born on August 26, 1967, in Edinburgh , Scotland.
Gove served as the Secretary of State for Education from 2010 to 2014 and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 2019 to 2021.
He has also held various other cabinet positions, including Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.
Gove is known for his conservative views and his support for Brexit.
He has written several books, including 'The Total Truth' and 'Celsius 7/12'.
The list includes several other allies of Sunak, including Mark Harper, former transport secretary; Simon Hart, former chief whip; Alister Jack, former Scotland secretary who admitted placing three bets on the date of the 2024 general election; and Eleanor Shawcross, head of the No 10 policy unit under Sunak. Shawcross is also married to Simon Wolfson, the chief executive of Next.
Criticisms from Opposition Parties
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has dismissed Sunak’s nominations as ‘an ID parade of political flunkies whose fingerprint of failure are still felt on family finances.‘ She believes that these rewards for failure demonstrate how out of touch the Conservatives are with the public.
The list also includes Jeremy Hunt, who was chancellor in Sunak’s cabinet, and James Cleverly, who served as foreign secretary and home secretary. Former England cricketer Jimmy Anderson has been given a knighthood, while several other Sunak allies have received honours when parliament was dissolved for the general election last summer.
A Complex Web of Loyalty and Reward
Gove’s appointment to the peerage is just the latest move in the complex web of loyalty and reward that defines the Conservative party. With Johnson’s sacking of Gove in July 2022 seen as an act of revenge, this latest development raises questions about the true motives behind Sunak’s resignation honours list.
The Conservative Party, also known as the Tories, has its roots in the early 18th century.
The party emerged from the Tory movement, which opposed the Whig Party's emphasis on constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy.
Key figures like Robert Walpole and Lord Chesterfield shaped the party's initial ideology.
By the mid-19th century, the Conservative Party had solidified its stance on issues like social hierarchy, economic protectionism, and imperial expansion.
