First out Tory MP Alan Duncan recommended for knighthood
The first out Tory MP, Alan Duncan, has reportedly been recommended for a knighthood after leaving his ministerial post.
The Evening Standard claims that Mr Duncan, who stepped down from the post of International Development Minister “at his own request” on Monday, has been put up for a knighthood by Prime Minister David Cameron.
He has been an MP since 1992, and was the first gay Tory MP to come out voluntarily, and the first MP to have a civil partnership.
The newspaper claims he is one of several departing ministers to be recommended for honours, alongside former Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson and Solicitor General Oliver Heald, while veteran minister Ken Clarke will reportedly join the Companions of Honour.
However, the move has been criticized by members of the Labour party, who claim it is an abuse of the honours system.
Rotheram MP Sarah Champion said: “David Cameron has now sacked and then knighted more men than he’s appointed women to the Cabinet.
“This patronage for the old boys’ club shows just how out of touch Cameron is. Dishing out honours and gongs as golden goodbyes to keep his sacked ministers happy not only undermines the honours process, but also shows yet again how the Prime Minister overlooks and forgets about women.”
London MP Stephen Pound said: “I’ve nothing against long-service medals but using honours to sweeten the pill of dismissal is an abuse.”
