Overview

• Michael Gove, a veteran cabinet minister and current editor of The Spectator, has been granted a peerage, securing a lifetime seat in the House of Lords.
• Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list includes peerages for former ministers Alister Jack, Simon Hart, Mark Harper, and others, alongside knighthoods for figures like Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly.
• The list mirrors the scale of resignation honours from previous prime ministers, aligning with historical practices but fueling ongoing debates about cronyism in the honours system.
• Critics argue the honours reward political allies despite the Conservative Party’s recent electoral defeat and public dissatisfaction with its governance.
• This marks Sunak’s second honours list, following his July 2024 dissolution honours, which also faced scrutiny for perceived political favoritism.