Cameron honours list is starting to collapse beneath cronyism claims
![Ian Taylor said he requested that his name be taken off the list following ‘seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead’ [Image: Denis Balibouse/Reuters].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/160803-Ian-Taylor-Vitol-Reuters.png)
Ian Taylor said he requested that his name be taken off the list following ‘seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead’ [Image: Denis Balibouse/Reuters].
The toxicity of Cameron’s choices is growing by the day, with allies of Theresa May now trying to say she would run the system differently – after Downing Street said interfering would set a “bad precedent”.
So, she’d do it differently – but not this time?
When will she, then?
The fact of the matter is that the Tory Chums’ Club has been blown wide open, and anybody named in Cameron’s list now faces serious reputational damage as somebody receiving an honour because they are friends of Tories, rather than due to any achievements for the good of the UK.
In This Writer’s opinion, that is why Mr Taylor has requested the removal of his name – and he would be right to do so.
Let us hope his request triggers a deluge of exits from the list of people who would only accept recognition for the right reasons – leaving only people who don’t mind tarnishing the honour system.
That is exactly the opposite of its purpose, of course – but at least it will be clear for all to see what it has become.
A major Tory donor has requested not to be given a knighthood, amid an intensifying row over David Cameron’s honours list.
Ian Taylor, an oil executive at Vitol, wrote to Theresa May requesting his name be taken off the list, after he was named as a Tory donor and funder of the pro-EU campaign who had been put forward by Cameron for an honour.
In a statement, Taylor said: “In recent days, speculation in the media has suggested that I may be recognised in the forthcoming resignation honours list. This has been accompanied by seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead. In these circumstances, I think it is right I request that my name does not go forward, if indeed I was being considered for an honour.
“Tonight, I am writing both to the outgoing and the current prime minister requesting that I would not wish to be considered for an honour at this time.”
As the row over Cameron’s decision to reward donors, aides and pro-EU campaigners in his resignation list entered its third day, with no sign of abating, allies of May tried to dissociate her from the controversy by signalling she would do things differently from her predecessor when it comes to handing out honours.
Source: Conservative donor asks to be removed from David Cameron honours list | Politics | The Guardian
ADVERT
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
May had her chance to stamp her personal authority as leader of these crowd of crony backscratchers and actually stand up and be seen as some one who is going to change things for the better. But no she chickened out and immediately blew her Tory cover as yet another clone of the nasty party. They promise things will change but never bother pity that would have been a game changer for improving the Cons PR thankfully she followed the sheep.
His “friends” allegedly to receive honors in Cameron’s final act of stupidity must be updating their Xmas card lists as we read. They will be forever known as being on the (Dis) Honours List.
Time to get rid of this outdated game of ego top trumps. Give Larry and Palmerston a gong at least they are useful.
Cronyism? Who could argue that Samantha Cameron’s Stylist didn’t deserve an honour for their personal achievement and untiring service to the nation and its citizens?
It’s not something I’ve thought a lot about, but perhaps the prime minster could be replaced by a parliamentary committee, working to an agreed set of criteria.
Interesting that this character doesn’t now wish to be associated with corrupt Cameron and is eager to distance himself from him, but he was willing to donate money to him and his nasty cause when he was in power.
This “honours” list tells us as much about Cameron as some of the ne’er-do-wells who end up with a totally undeserved gong.
Nothing will happen, they’ll all get their knighthoods and peerages!