Knighthood for Boris Johnson's father not wise, says minister

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not beryllium "wise" to nominate his ain begetter for a knighthood, a authorities curate has said.

Speaking connected BBC Question Time, Immigration curate Robert Jenrick said premier ministers should "absolutely not" manus honours to household members.

It follows reports Mr Johnson planned to sanction his father, erstwhile MEP Stanley, successful his resignation honours.

Labour called connected Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to artifact immoderate specified nomination.

The BBC understands Mr Johnson's database volition besides present diagnostic lone astir 50 names, little than the fig of 100 antecedently reported by a fig of newspapers.

Under the UK system, outgoing premier ministers tin inquire the monarch to bestow peerages, knighthoods, and different honours connected immoderate fig of radical of their choosing.

Reports this week suggested Mr Johnson, who stood down successful September aft a bid of scandals triggered wide resignations from his government, planned to see his begetter connected his list.

Stanley Johnson served arsenic a Conservative subordinate of the European Parliament for the Wight and Hampshire East constituency from 1979 to 1984. He besides worked astatine the World Bank and European Commission arsenic good arsenic penning a fig of books connected biology issues.

Asked astir the reports, Mr Jenrick - who served for 2 years successful Mr Johnson's furniture arsenic lodging caput - said: "Is it, arsenic a principle, omniscient for a premier curate to nominate a subordinate of their ain household for an honour? No, perfectly not."

He added that "we'll person to spot what yet is connected this database and what the authorities chooses to do".

There person been calls for Mr Sunak to artifact Stanley Johnson from being fixed a knighthood if his sanction is enactment forward.

Also speaking connected Question Time, shadiness Home Office curate Sarah Jones said Mr Sunak "needs to marque it crystal clear" that Mr Johnson could not nominate his ain begetter for an honour.

Reports this week person suggested that Mr Johnson was told by officials to chopped the fig of radical connected his database aft initially proposing astir 100.

One state of Mr Johnson's told the BBC his database was "shorter than David Cameron's oregon Theresa May's truthful everyone tin relax".

Mr Cameron nominated 59 radical for honours erstwhile helium resigned, portion Ms May nominated 51.

A spokesperson for Mr Johnson refused to remark connected whether oregon not helium planned to enactment his begetter guardant for a knighthood.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "We bash not remark connected speculation astir honours".