Penny Mordaunt raises concerns over ‘debasement of the honours system’
Her remarks came as MPs considered a Privileges Committee report.
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Your support makes all the difference.Britons believe there has been “debasement of the honours system” by Boris Johnson, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has suggested.
The Conservative minister referred to concerns over the honours system as she listed “contempts” people may feel have been made against them rather than the House of Commons.
Her remarks came as MPs considered a Privileges Committee report that found Mr Johnson committed “repeated contempts” of Parliament.
The former prime minister was said to have deliberately misled MPs with his partygate denials and accused of being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation, with Mr Johnson hitting out at the “deranged conclusion”.
Speaking in the Commons, Ms Mordaunt said: “Our constituents may not appreciate why we are focused on contempt towards the House, as opposed to contempts they may feel have been made against them.
“The lockdown breaches themselves, which grate hard with those who sacrificed so much to keep us all safe, or for others the creation of a culture relaxed about the need to lift restrictions or for others on wider issues such as the debasement of the honours system.
“But we would be wrong to think there is no meaningful consequences to our actions this afternoon.
“The work of the Privileges Committee in producing this report before us today does not just examine the conduct of a former colleague.
“Their work has also sought to defend our rights and privileges in this place. The right not to be misled, the right not to be abused in carrying out our duties.”
Ms Mordaunt, who said she would support the report, went on: “This matters because the integrity of our institutions matter.
“The respect and trust afforded to them matters. This has real world consequences for the accountability of Members of Parliament to each other and the members of the public they represent.
“Today, all members should do what they think is right, and others should leave them alone to do so.”
Labour MP Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) said people are concerned about Mr Johnson’s honours list, adding: “The very idea that somebody who has left here as discredited, being convicted by a committee of this House of lying should be entitled to put people in the House of Lords or give them honours from the King is just unfathomable for people, especially when we read at the weekend that some of whom were on his honours list were people partying during the lockdown.
“Boozy shenanigans at Tory HQ.
“What an absolute, utter, complete contempt to this country.”
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova (Battersea) said: “Those honours should be withdrawn.”
Downing Street has suggested Mr Johnson’s resignation honours could be reviewed by a special committee if nominees are deemed to have brought the honours system “into disrepute”.
It comes after a video emerged of a party held at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in December 2020 while Covid restrictions were in place.
The event was attended by former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who were put forward for a peerage and an OBE respectively by Mr Johnson.
No 10 said Rishi Sunak had followed a “longstanding” convention by refusing to interfere with a former prime minister’s resignation honours.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman, asked whether Mr Bailey and Mr Mallet should give up their honours following their attendance at the party, brought up the work of the Forfeiture Committee.
Mr Bailey had reportedly left the gathering when the video was taken and has previously apologised for his involvement.