Boris Johnson nominates his father for knighthood, reports claim

Any honour for Stanley Johnson would raise questions for the former Conservative leader, ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports

Boris Johnson has put his father, Stanley, forward for a knighthood as part of his resignation honours list, according to reports.

The former prime minister, who was forced out of Downing Street last September following a series of scandals, reportedly included his father as one of as many as 100 names put forward for honours, according to The Times.

A spokesperson for the Mr Johnson said: "We don't comment on honours."

Stanley Johnson also declined to comment.

Any honour for Stanley Johnson would raise questions for his son.

He faced accusations of cronyism in 2020, after he nominated his brother Jo Johnson for a peerage.

Sir Keir Starmer was critical following the reports, arguing it would be "outrageous" for Stanley Johnson to be given a knighthood.

He told LBC Radio: "The idea that Boris Johnson is nominating his dad for a knighthood - you only need to say it to realise just how ridiculous it is.

"It's classic of a man like Johnson. I mean, I think the public will just think this is absolutely outrageous."

But Stanley Johnson's daughter, Rachel Johnson, defended the idea of him being offered a knighthood, saying he had done "much more for the Tory Party and the environment than dozens of people who have been given gongs to at this point".

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She told The News Agents podcast: "If my brother hadn't been prime minister, I think my father could have been in line for some sort of recognition in his own right."

Meanwhile, Science Secretary Michelle Donelan said there are "bigger fish to fry", when quizzed about Stanley Johnson potentially being put forward for a knighthood.

In 2021, senior Tory MP Caroline Nokes and a journalist publicly accused Stanley Johnson, a former MEP, of touching them at Conservative party conferences.

Ms Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, accused Stanley Johnson of forcefully smacking her on the backside and making a vulgar comment at the Conservative Party conference in 2003.

Stanley Johnson said after that he had "no recollection" of either incident.