In what could be his final act as PM, Rishi Sunak handed a knighthood to Alister Jack as well as peerages to failed Tory ex-minister Chris Grayling and former PM Theresa May
Rishi Sunak handed a knighthood to Tory minister Alister Jack who admitted placing three bets on the election date, just an hour before polls closed in the General Election.
Failed Tory ex-minister Chris Grayling and former PM Theresa May were handed peerages in the dissolution honours list, in what could be Mr Sunak’s final act as Prime Minister. He also gave knighthoods to his deputy, Oliver Dowden, and a peerage to Graham Brady, the outgoing chair of the Tory 1922 Committee.
As will Craig Mackinlay, the former Tory MP for South Thanet who lost his hands and feet to sepsis. Mr Mackinlay appeared in the Commons for the first time since his illness on the day Mr Sunak called the election. He had intended to fight to keep his seat, but changed his mind following the news of the snap election.
Mr Jack is alleged to have told a reporter he’d won £2,100 betting on the date of the election in the wake of Mr Sunak’s surprise announcement. But he later claimed his comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.
In a further statement last week, Mr Jack admitted to making three bets on the timing of the election. He said: “I want to be absolutely clear I have not breached any gambling rules. I placed two unsuccessful bets on the date of the general election and one successful one.
“I put two bets on in March of £5 each for an election to be held in May and June respectively. In April, I put £20 at 5 to 1 on an election being held between July and September. I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called.”
Liam Booth Smith, Mr Sunak’s No10 chief of staff, will be installed for life in the House of Lords. Former Deputy PM Therese Coffey, ex-chief whip Julian Smith and former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace were all given knighthoods and damehoods.
Labour’s nominations for peerages include Dame Margaret Beckett and Harriet Harman, both former deputy leaders of the party. Labour MPs Margaret Hodge, Kevan Jones, Barbara Keely, John Spellar and Rosie Winterton will all become Lords.
