Rishi Sunak reportedly set to accept Boris Johnson’s honours list

Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to sign off on Boris Johnson’s contentious honours list, which could result in two byelections.

The prime minister will accept Johnson’s resignation honours list, which is understood to have about 50 names submitted, within weeks, according to the Times.

But it could result in a headache for Sunak with the prospect of byelections in the autumn as Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary under Johnson, and Alok Sharma, his Cop26 president, are expected to stand down to take peerages.

Sharma’s seat in Reading West, Berkshire, has a majority of only 4,117. Dorries’ seat in Mid Bedfordshire is a safe Tory seat with a 24,664 majority but could be at risk if there is a big swing towards Labour after the party’s success in May’s local council elections.

A Whitehall source told the newspaper they expected the list to be published in the next fortnight, while another said it would be before the summer recess in July. The source added Sunak is keen to “clear the decks” and move on.

Nigel Adams, a former minister, and Alister Jack, the Scotland secretary, who are believed to be on the list, are expected to stay on as MPs until the end of this parliament.

Some Conservatives told the Guardian last month they are confused over Sunak’s decision to accept Johnson’s list after the Cabinet Office passed his pandemic diaries to two police forces over concerns about further potential rule breaches during Covid.

Johnson resigned last July as Conservative leader after a cabinet revolt. He is still being investigated by the House of Commons privileges committee, which is looking into whether he misled parliament by providing reassurances that all Covid rules and guidelines were followed in No 10.

The former prime minister’s honours list has been contentious after reports last year about names submitted including party donors, aides and a proposed knighthood for his father, Stanley Johnson.

Last month, Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said it was impossible for the list to go ahead due to Johnson facing fresh accusations relating to Covid rule breaches.

She said: “With the disgraced former prime minister now facing new allegations and under multiple investigations, there should be no question of Rishi Sunak approving honours for his cronies and cheerleaders.

“The prime minister should refuse to do Boris Johnson’s bidding and make it clear that he will reject these demands.

“His top priority right now should be tackling the cost of living crisis facing ordinary people, not handing out more rewards for 13 years of Tory failure.”