The decision to award resignation honours has long been a contentious issue in British politics, with Prime Ministers often under pressure from outgoing colleagues to reward their loyalty. Now, as Labour's new leader prepares to take the reins at No 10, Keir Starmer is facing scrutiny over his stance on the practice. In a significant shift, he has twice declined to rule out drawing up a resignation honours list for departing members of his team, fuelling speculation that his earlier pledge not to do so may be set aside.
Starmer's change of heart comes just three years after he condemned then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's approval of Boris Johnson's extensive resignation honours list, which included numerous high-profile allies. At the time, he argued it was 'very hard to justify' and declared that Labour would not follow suit. Instead, Starmer pointed to the precedent set by Tony Blair, who opted against a resignation list.
But as he prepares to leave office, Starmer's stance has seemingly softened, with his recent response to questioning on the matter suggesting a decision is yet to be made. This development comes as Andy Burnham is all but confirmed as his successor, having secured an overwhelming 322 nominations from Labour MPs and garnered significant union backing.
The tradition of Prime Ministers awarding resignation honours upon their departure has been subject to controversy in recent years, with scrutiny focused on instances such as Liz Truss's list, approved by Sunak despite her brief tenure. While these lists require approval from both the incoming Prime Minister and the House of Lords Appointments Commission, the process remains opaque, leaving room for speculation over the motivations behind each decision.
As Starmer navigates this complex landscape, his position on resignation honours has emerged as a key test of his leadership credentials. Will he uphold his earlier pledge, or opt to award honours to departing colleagues in a bid to maintain party unity and reward loyalty? The answer remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the decision will have significant implications for Labour's future direction.