Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Sunak clears Liz Truss’s Honours List

The ousted prime minister made 11 nominations of some of her close friends and allies

Sunak clears Liz Truss’s Honours List

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who was under pressure from the Opposition regarding the customary resignation Honours List from his short-lived predecessor Liz Truss, has authorised the controversial peerages.

Truss made 11 nominations of some of her close friends and allies, including Conservative Party donor Jon Moynihan and former Brexit Vote Leave chief Matthew Elliott for seats in the House of Lords.


Ruth Porter, a former senior aide to Truss, is made a peer, as per the announcement released on Friday (29) night alongside the annual New Year Honours list cleared by Downing Street in the name of King Charles III.

The former prime minister was forced to resign from 10 Downing Street after just 49 days in October 2022 because of turmoil in the financial markets following a disastrous mini-budget last September.

The Opposition Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties expressed their dismay at the announcement.

“This list is proof positive of Rishi Sunak's weakness and a slap in the face of the working people who are paying the price of the Tories crashing the economy,” said Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Jonathan Ashworth.

“Honours should be for those committed to public service, not rewards for Tory failure," he said.

"Truss handing out gongs after blowing a hole in the public finances and leaving families reeling from spiralling mortgage costs calls this whole honours system into disrepute," added Deputy Lib Dem leader Daisy Cooper.

Meanwhile, those close to the former prime minister are highlighting how the list is a “modest” one to honour hard work and Downing Street insisted it had gone through the usual checks.

“The convention is the incumbent prime minister does not block the political peerage proposals of others," the BBC quoted a Downing Street source as saying.

The Truss list also includes damehoods for Shirley Conran, of the Maths Anxiety Trust, and for Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price, plus a knighthood for Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke.

Former Truss advisers Shabbir Merali and Sophie Jarvis will get Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBEs), while Tory MPs Rob Butler and Suzanne Webb will get Order of the British Empire (OBEs).

David Hills, chair of the Conservative association in South West Norfolk, Truss's constituency, gets an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire.

(PTI)

More For You

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra says she wants strong roles not just ornamental characters

Getty Images

Priyanka Chopra says she is just getting started in Hollywood with 'Heads of State' on Prime Video

Quick highlights:

  • Priyanka Chopra Jonas says she’s just getting started in Hollywood.
  • Stars as a fierce MI6 agent alongside Idris Elba and John Cena.
  • Gets into serious action mode with explosions, helicopters, and hand-to-hand combat.
  • Says her journey is still evolving, with much more to explore in the West.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas may have ruled Bollywood for over two decades, but the global star believes she’s still “nascent” in her Hollywood journey, and that’s what makes it exciting.

The Quantico and Citadel actor stars in the new Amazon Prime Video film Heads of State, playing a sharp MI6 agent named Noel Bisset. Her character has a complicated history with British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (played by Idris Elba) and is tasked with protecting him and the newly elected US President Will Derringer (John Cena) when they're attacked before a major NATO conference.

Keep ReadingShow less
Arijit Singh

Arijit Singh becomes most followed musician on Spotify

Getty Images

Arijit Singh overtakes Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to become most followed artist on Spotify

Quick highlights:

• Arijit Singh makes global music history with 151 million Spotify followers

• Surpasses Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in follower count

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Diwali

This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)

Major changes announced for Leicester’s Diwali celebrations amid safety fears

LDRS

THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.

Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher arrives for the special screening of Oasis documentary "Supersonic"

Getty Images

Liam Gallagher apologises for racial slur after backlash as Oasis reunion tour kicks off

Quick highlights:

  • Liam Gallagher issued an apology after using a racial slur in a now-deleted social media post.
  • The offensive post appeared just days before Oasis kicked off their reunion tour in Cardiff.
  • Fans criticised the singer on X, prompting him to clarify it was unintentional.
  • Oasis will perform over 40 shows globally, starting 5 July in Wales.

Liam Gallagher has apologised for using a racial slur in a post on X, as Oasis reunites for their first tour in 15 years. The singer shared a one-word reply on Monday that included a derogatory term aimed at East Asian people. Though he quickly deleted it, screenshots circulated online, sparking widespread criticism.

In a follow-up post on Tuesday, Gallagher wrote: “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. Peace and love LG x.”

Keep ReadingShow less