Theresa May will not ‘interfere’ over David Cameron’s resignation honours list

Prime Minister Theresa May will not interfere with the official process of approving her predecessor David Cameron's resignation honours list despite allegations of cronyism, Downing Street has said.

Following a leak of the list, opposition MPs demanded a complete overhaul of the system after it was claimed the former PM is pushing to reward personal aides, political donors and senior figures on the losing Remain campaign.

The leaked list of 48 names includes rich Tory donors and aides including his wife's stylist.

Mr Cameron was accused of gross cronyism and giving a “two-fingered salute” to the public after his recommendations were made public.

He put forward big-spending oil tycoon Ian Taylor and engineering supremo Andrew Cook – who have gifted the Conservatives more than £2.6m – for knighthoods.

Mr Taylor is said to be one of the most powerful figures in the international oil industry and Mr Cook, chairman of engineering firm William Cook, has lent the ex-PM his private plane more than 20 times.

Both men reportedly also gave big donations to the official EU referendum remain campaign group Britain Stronger in Europe.

And he proposed honours for 24 of his Downing Street staff including his personal drivers and a clutch of Remain campaigners.

Four Cabinet ministers who backed Remain – Chancellor Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, Commons leader David Lidington, and Tory party chairman Patrick McLoughlin - are also on the list for proposed knighthoods.

Will Straw, director of the unsuccessful Remain campaign, has been nominated for a CBE in the list.

George Osborne’s former chief of staff and PR guru Thea Rogers – an ex BBC journalist said to be responsible for his image overhaul – is in line for an OBE.

She is said to have overseen his slimmer figure and close-cropped haircut and helped raise his profile with high-profile tours of factories.

And SamCam’s “Girl Friday” Isabel Spearman has been nominated for an OBE.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “It brings the honours system into complete disrepute.

“It is blatant cronyism and rewards the failed Remain campaign which ultimately cost David Cameron and George Osborne their jobs.”

An unnamed minister said Cameron’s list would provoke anger among backbench MPs and Leave-supporting Conservative members.

They said: “I don’t object to the outgoing prime minister giving rewards to people who have given long service in his office but to think that people may have been influenced on their position in the referendum in a bid to be rewarded or that people like Will Straw, who have done nothing to help the Prime Minister and have probably done more to harm the Conservative Party in government, devalues the system and will make a lot of people very angry.”

Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham slammed the list insisting they should be all be knocked back.

He said: “Regardless of the fact that they come from an outgoing Prime Minister, these recommendations should be turned down.

“If they are accepted, they will destroy any remaining shred of respect for the honours system.

“Many people voted Leave out of sheer frustration at an out-of-touch political elite.

“This Honours List reads like a two-fingered salute back to the public. It sums up everything that is wrong with Westminster politics.”

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said: “That Mr Cameron proposes to reward his friends network on such a huge scale will not only bring the honours system into disrepute, it will undermine the reputation of the Theresa May.

“It’s cronyism, pure and simple and proof the Tories will always put their own interests before those of the country.”

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron added: “David Cameron’s cronyism on this – which is what it is – dishonours the honours system.”

And former Ukip boss Nigel Farage said: “David Cameron’s resignation honours list shows that it’s a good job he’s gone.

“Too many rewards for failure.”

Mrs May was under pressure to intervene but a spokeswoman said the new premier would not interfere in decisions of the honours committees, which are independent of No 10.

"It is standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list," the spokeswoman said.

"The names on the list were at the former prime minister's discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees.

"It would set a very bad precedent for a new prime minister to interfere in the official processes."