A war of words has erupted between former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak regarding the nominations for peerages for Johnson’s close allies. Sunak has accused Johnson of requesting him to “overrule” the vetting advice provided for the House of Lords nominations, while Johnson vehemently denies these claims and accuses Sunak of “talking rubbish.”
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) has stated that it rejected eight of Johnson’s nominations. However, the identities of the nominees and the reasons for their exclusion from Johnson’s resignation honours list remain undisclosed.
The controversy surrounding the honours list deepened when key supporters of Johnson, including Conservative MPs Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, were not included. Shortly after the publication of the honours list by Sunak’s government, Johnson announced his resignation as an MP amid an investigation into whether he misled Parliament about lockdown parties.
Competing claims have emerged regarding why the names were absent from the list. Both Adams and Dorries have announced their immediate resignation as MPs, triggering by-elections.
On Monday, the dispute between Johnson and Sunak escalated into a public confrontation. Sunak, speaking at a tech conference in London, revealed that Johnson had asked him to do something he was unwilling to do regarding peerage nominations. Johnson, responding later, stated that it was unnecessary to overrule HOLAC but rather to ask them to renew their vetting, which he claimed was a mere formality.
The disagreement between the former allies centers around the process of vetting Johnson’s nominees for peerages. Speculation has arisen about whether a serving MP nominated for a peerage can remain in the House of Commons until the next general election before assuming their seat in the House of Lords. HOLAC’s vetting checks expire after six months, leading Johnson to suggest that the checks for his nominees could be conducted at a later date.
Sunak’s public comments on the peerage dispute mark a significant escalation in tensions between him and Johnson. Their relationship has been strained since Sunak resigned as chancellor in Johnson’s government, triggering a series of resignations that ultimately led to Johnson’s premiership’s downfall.
As a departing prime minister, Johnson has the authority to nominate individuals for seats in the House of Lords and other honors. HOLAC typically advises prime ministers on the suitability of candidates for peerages, and their recommendations are usually accepted. In 2020, British Prime Minister Johnson deviated from convention by nominating businessman Peter Cruddas for a peerage, despite the rejection of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC).
The ongoing dispute over nominations has raised questions about transparency and the nomination process for peerages. Accusations of secret blocking and the bypassing of basic checks have fueled the controversy, adding to the already tense situation between Sunak and Johnson.
