Treasury chief Tom Scholar sacked by Liz Truss before disaster Budget gets top honor

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A senior Treasury official who was 'purged' by Liz Truss before her disastrous tax cut budget has been given a high honor.

Sir Tom The Scholar was sacked as Permanent Secretary to the Treasury days after Ms Truss became Prime Minister as part of her crusade against 'Treasury orthodoxy' - freeing her to adopt the ill-fated policies.

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The move sparked criticism and questions about the government's economic competence ahead of its budget - which ultimately sent borrowing costs skyrocketing, plunging the value of the pound sterling and signaling the end of the Premiership from Mrs Truss.

Sir Tom has now been awarded a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in New Year's Honors - the highest honor in the chivalric order. He had been a Knight Commander of the order since the 2017 Anniversary Honors.

Deputy to senior civil servant Catherine Little, who also left her post as director general of public expenditure in October 2022, has also been made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, according to the New Year's List.

Awards are chosen by an independent committee, although they are approved by the King and in practice by Rishi Sunak.

Sir Tom Scholar was Permanent Secretary to the Treasury

Most prime ministers can appoint a list of people for honors when they step down, but today's New Year's Honors are not expected to include nominations for Ms Truss or her predecessor Boris Johnson.

Mrs Nominations Johnson are expected to be finalized at a later date and released separately, while Ms Truss was reportedly warned against appointing a long list of people due to her short tenure as Prime Minister.

< p>Criticism of Sir Tom's sacking on September 8 by Ms Truss and her Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng came from former cabinet secretaries Lord Butler and Lord O'Donnell, who said the move undermined the independence of the civil service.

Ms Truss had accused the Treasury of promoting "abacus economics" by "making sure taxes and spending add up" while promising "bold" tax cuts.

In practice, the tax cuts were quickly reversed after causing a major shock to the financial system that nearly brought down pension funds.

Sir Tom had worked closed...