Major Tory donor and four Conservative MPs given honours
Tory senior treasury Mohamed Mansour, who gave £5 million to the party, has been awarded a knighthood.
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A major Tory donor and four MPs have been awarded honours on the recommendation of Rishi Sunak.
Businessman Mohamed Mansour, who gave £5 million to the Tories in 2023 and is a senior treasurer at the party, was knighted for business, charity and political service.
This is either the arrogant act of an entitled man who's stopped caring what the public thinks, or the demob-happy self-indulgence of someone who doesn't expect to be Prime Minister much longer
Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds hit out at the Prime Minister for recommending the honour.
She said: “This is either the arrogant act of an entitled man who’s stopped caring what the public thinks, or the demob-happy self-indulgence of someone who doesn’t expect to be Prime Minister much longer.
“Either way, it shows a blatant disrespect for the office he should feel privileged to hold.”
Senior No 10 sources pointed to Sir Mohamed’s charitable work and record of public service, including support for The Prince’s Foundation – now The King’s Foundation – and a major contributor to St Paul’s Cathedral’s Remember Me project, which raised money for a physical memorial to those who died of Covid-19 in the UK.
The timing of the announcement, while Parliament is in recess and on the eve of the Easter bank holiday weekend, has also raised eyebrows – although sources said the timing of the honours was linked to the need to make appointments to the Privy Council, including the new First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething.
Other recipients of honours include Philip Davies – whose wife is the Government’s “common sense” minister Esther McVey – who has been knighted for public and parliamentary service.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who led a review of football governance in the wake of proposals for a breakaway European Super League, has been given a damehood for public and parliamentary service.
Farming minister Mark Spencer has also been given a knighthood, while Treasury Select Committee chairwoman Harriett Baldwin becomes a dame.
Democratic Unionist Party MP Gregor Campbell has also been made a CBE.
The Prime Minister recommended the honours to the King.
Shipley MP Sir Philip told the PA news agency: “Obviously I’m absolutely delighted. I’m somewhat flabbergasted as well, to be honest.
“It feels very surreal and I’m somewhat in shock.”
He added: “I’m just immensely grateful to everybody who has enabled it to happen.”
Sir Philip has been MP for Shipley since 2005 and hosted a GB News show with wife Esther McVey until she gave up the presenting role to return to government as minister without portfolio in November 2023.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.