Boris Johnson to hand peerages to expelled Tories Ken Clarke and Phillip Hammond
Ken Clarke, former Tory MP, in the House of Commons. Photograph: Parliament TV. - Credit: Archant
Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to nominate expelled Tory politicians Ken Clarke and Phillip Hammond - despite kicking them out of the party when they voted against the government over a no-deal Brexit.
The two former chancellors, who rebelled against the government to back the Benn act to stop a no-deal Brexit, reportedly could be elevated to the House of Lords.
The pro-EU politicians both stepped down at the last election after Boris Johnson expelled them from the party along with 21 other MPs.
Hammond was once a chancellor under Theresa May, while Clarke was chancellor to John Major. They had both been critical of Boris Johnson's Brexit strategy before the 2019 general election.
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is also expected to receive a peerage as part of the dissolution honours list.
You may also want to watch:
Meanwhile Johnson is proposing peerages for Corbyn critics Ian Austin and John Woodcock, both repeatedly spoke out against the Labour leadership, and urged voters not to back the party in the last election.
A notable absence from the list again is former speaker John Bercow, who would be the first in 230 years not to automatically receive a peerage.
Most Read
- 1 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 2 Nigel Farage launches new party in Scotland to promote 'positive case for the Union'
- 3 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 4 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 5 Brexit changes lead to exodus of Brits from Spain, UK nationals claim
- 6 James O'Brien schools Brexiteer who refuses to accept new EU-UK trade rules
- 7 Brexiteer rebuked after backing Nigel Farage's 'East Germany' claims
- 8 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 9 Tory candidate suspended by party over comments about ‘fat’ food bank user
- 10 No 10 defends Stanley Johnson receiving two coronavirus vaccines while others don't
There had been reports that Labour were proposing elevating the former speaker instead, breaking with another convention by nominating a former politician of another party.
Bercow used The New European to criticise the govrnment's opposition to a peerage.
He told the newspaper: "It's not exactly consistent with all of this talk from the government of bringing everyone together and letting bygones be bygones."
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
