Stand up, Mr. Stanley? Boris Johnson nominates his father for a knighthood: Controversial move has been labeled ‘absolutely outrageous’ by Labor – but Tory MPs say the 82-year-old deserves credit for his years of environmental commitment
- If Stanley’s knighthood is approved, he will join his son in the House of Lords
- Several Tory MPs appeared to support the former prime minister’s decision
Boris Johnson has nominated his father’s name for a knighthood on his discharge honors list, it has been reported.
Should Stanley Johnson’s knighthood be approved by the Cabinet Office, he will be honored by the ex-Prime Minister along with his son Jo, a former Tory minister who now sits in the House of Lords.
Although it was met with some criticism, several Tory MPs appeared to support the former prime minister’s decision.
Backbencher Michael Fabricant said: ‘Stanley Johnson should have been knighted years ago… he was in the European Parliament and then he was involved in animal protection worldwide, and he has written books on environmental and population issues.’
Boris Johnson has nominated his father’s name for a knighthood on his discharge honors list, it has been reported
Should Stanley Johnson’s knighthood be approved by the Cabinet Office, he and his son Jo, a former Tory minister who now sits in the House of Lords, will be honored by the ex-Prime Minister
Science Secretary Michelle Donelan said: ‘It is clearly the former Prime Minister’s prerogative to be able to make those appointments.
“But honestly, I think there are bigger fish to fry.”
Mr Johnson, 82, is one of 100 nominations, according to The Times.
However, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer criticized the decision, telling LBC Radio yesterday: ‘The idea of an ex-Prime Minister paying tribute to his father – for services to what? – you only have to say it to realize how ridiculous it is.
“It’s classic from a man like Johnson. I think the public will find this absolutely outrageous.’
There are bigger fish to fry
Wes Streeting, Labor’s health spokesman, told the BBC: “I think it speaks to a pattern of Boris Johnson’s behavior around nepotism. I don’t care if Stanley Johnson is knighted. What I find special is that there are still many Conservative MPs who continue to defend Boris Johnson’s behavior.’
In 2021, Stanley was charged with assault by Conservative MP Caroline Nokes and political journalist Ailbhe Rea. Ms Nokes, 50, said he hit her ‘as hard as he could’ on the bum and said ‘you have a nice seat’ at the Conservative Party conference in 2003.
Science Secretary Michelle Donelan said: ‘It is clearly the former Prime Minister’s prerogative to be able to make those appointments. “But honestly I think there are bigger fish to fry”
A spokesman for Boris Johnson said his team does not comment on awards. His father declined to comment
Ms Rea claimed he “groped me” at the 2019 Tory conference when she was 24. At the time, Mr Johnson told Sky News: ‘I don’t remember anything about Caroline Nokes, but there you go.’
And in 2020, a biography by the then Prime Minister claimed that Stanley’s late wife Charlotte Johnson Wahl required hospital treatment after being beaten by him in the 1970s. He is said to have deeply regretted the ‘isolated’ incident.
Last night, Rachel, the former prime minister’s sister, told the News Agents podcast: “I don’t expect there to be a national outburst of joy.
“Had my brother not been prime minister, I think my father could have qualified for some sort of recognition himself. He has done much more for the Tory party and the environment than dozens of people who have been given gongs at this point.
“It is also not uncommon for a prime minister to put a family member on a dismissal list.”
A spokesman for Boris Johnson said his team does not comment on awards. His father declined to comment.
