Boris Johnson's 'absurd' plan to give Father Stanley a knighthood 'corrodes public trust', Tories warn

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Boris Johnson's 'absurd' plan to give his father a knighthood as part of his resignation will discredit the system and 'corrode public trust', say senior Tory figures told The Independent.

Top Tories have joined Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer in condemning the former Prime Minister's decision - one of 100 names he would have nominated for honours.

Former cabinet minister David Davis told The Independent: “I think that's ridiculous. It discredits the honors system, which is pretty good in that it doesn't cost money and recognizes the achievements of ordinary people.

"There has been a gradual corrosion of public trust in this system, so it's not helping to further undermine that trust just because of a family favor. It's corrosive," Mr Davis said.

A former Tory cabinet minister added: "Sir Stanley's idea would be ridiculous, totally baseless nepotism. The problem with Boris is that he tarnishes everything he touches. And now he is discrediting the whole honors system."

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The senior official said: "The honors committee should weed out the majority of these names and spare Rishi Sunak the embarrassment of having to veto them and correct Boris' bad judgment."

Another former Tory minister told The Independent that Mr Johnson nominating his father to become a knight was "another bizarre moment" from the former party leader.

An initial report in The Times that the former prime minister knighted his father as part of his resignation honors was not denied by his spokesperson. "We don't comment on honours," they said.

This sparked outrage across the political spectrum and calls for Rishi Sunak to veto the knight's proposal. "The idea of ​​Boris Johnson appointing his father a knighthood, you only have to say it to realize how ridiculous it is," said Sir Keir.

"It's classic d 'a man like Johnson. I think the public will just think that's absolutely outrageous,' the Labor leader said, adding: 'The idea of ​​a former Prime Minister bestowing honors on his father - for services to what?"

Lib Dem Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain said the former prime minister's "nepotism" was nothing new. "If future honor rolls are...