Rishi Sunak is facing backlash after handing out knighthoods and peerages to senior Tories in his resignation honours list, with many accusing him of offering “rewards for failure.” Among the recipients are former cabinet ministers like Michael Gove, Mark Harper, and Alister Jack, who have now secured lifetime seats in the House of Lords.
Sunak, who led the Conservatives to a crushing defeat in the last general election, also gave knighthoods to figures like James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Grant Shapps, Mel Stride, and Andrew Mitchell.
🤔 Sunak’s ‘Loyalty Awards’
In total, Sunak gave honours to 11 current and former Tory MPs, 18 former party advisers, two Tory councillors, and even the former chief executive of the party. Other unexpected awardees included former England cricketer James Anderson and filmmaker Matthew Vaughn.
But the move has sparked outrage. Many feel Sunak’s honours list is a cynical attempt to reward the very people responsible for the failures of his government.
😡 ‘A Slap in the Face’ for Hardworking Families
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper didn’t hold back in her criticism. She called the appointments a “reward for failure” and slammed Sunak for handing out honours to those who, in her words, “still have the fingerprints of failure” all over them.
She added: “These political nominations look like an ID parade of political flunkies whose fingerprints of failure are still felt on family finances.”
According to Cooper, the actions show how “out of touch” the Conservatives remain, especially considering the cost of living crisis and the chaos under their leadership.
💬 Social Media Reacts
As you might expect, the public’s reaction on social media wasn’t much kinder. Many users voiced their dismay at the honours, accusing Sunak of rewarding the very people who played a role in the government’s failure.
One user wrote: “Can’t believe Sunak is rewarding the same people who helped create the mess we’re in. This feels like a slap in the face to everyone still struggling with the cost of living crisis.”
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