Theresa May’s former top officials and political cronies have been handed gongs – despite the Prime Minister slamming David Cameron after his chums got honours in his resignation list.
The awards for Mrs May’s loyal Home Office staff and top police chiefs were revealed just hours after she quit as Tory leader and as she prepares to skulk out of No10.
Head of immigration Glyn Williams becomes a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the Queen’s Birthday Honours – despite his role in the Windrush scandal.
Mr Williams served as the Home Office’s head of migration policy between August 2010 to 2013 when the hostile environment policy was developed.
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Then Home Secretary Mrs May said in 2012 her aim “was to create here in Britain a really hostile environment for illegal migration”.
Mr Williams also sat alongside then Home Secretary Amber Rudd when she was grilled over removal targets by MPs.
She resigned after telling the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee there were no targets for deportation of illegal immigrants – the top civil servant agreed there weren’t – as far as he knew.
Later a government review found that Ms Rudd, who took over from the PM as Home Secretary, had been let down by her officials.
Mr Williams is one of 10 Home Office staff to receive gongs.
Another controversial honour goes to police chief Sara Thornton who had to apologise for her role in one of the worst child sex slavery scandals in British history.
Ms Thornton said she was “delighted and humbled” to be made a Dame.
The current Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner was chief constable of Thames Valley Police – which includes Mrs May’s Maidenhead constituency – in 2007 to 2015.
The force failed to help up to 373 children who were groomed, plied with drugs and alcohol and sexually abused in Oxford.
(Image: PA)
Ms Thornton said: “It was a privilege to serve the public as a police officer for over 30 years, often challenging but always rewarding.”
The Chair of the Wates Group developers, which has given the Tories £450,000, receives an OBE.
James Wates was given the honour “for services to business and charity”, while Archibald Boyd Tunnock, who invented the Tunnock’s Teacake and was “deeply honoured” to receive a knighthood, has given the Tories £30,000.
Catherine Page, who was a private secretary to Mrs May, is handed an OBE for public service.
Thomas Spiller, who is President of the National Conservative Conservation, receives an OBE for public and political service.
Long-time Tory activist, hedge fund manager and chairman of Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association Patrick Evershed gets a CBE.
Councillor David Williams, who served on Merton council in South London with Mrs May, receives an MBE.
Former Tory Councillor Derek Wilson, who served on Maidenhead Council – in the Prime Minister’s constituency – gets the same accolade (MBE).
Katy Bourne, who is Tory Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, receives an OBE.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Outgoing Tory MEP for the North West Jacqueline Foster receives a Damehood, while Labour MEP for Wales Derek Vaughan, who is also stepping down, is made a CBE – both for public and political service.
Tim Warren, the ousted Tory leader of Jacob Rees-Mogg ’s local council, Bath and North East Somerset, is made a CBE for services to local government.
Elsewhere the head of the Confederation of British Industry Carolyn Fairbairn, who had been a strong campaigner for the UK to Remain in the EU and has since warned of the dangers of no-deal for business, becomes a Dame.
The Director-General of MI5 Andrew Parker becomes a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, who has campaigned for better mental health treatment, receives a knighthood, as do current Labour MP George Howarth and former Labour MP Brian Donohoe.
Former Network Rail programme director Simon Blanchflower is made a CBE despite last year’s controversy surrounding the same honour being awarded to the outgoing head of the organisation, Mark Carne, in the midst of rail disruption.
A Government spokesman said: “Volunteering and working for a political party is part of our civic democracy and contributes to public life. The system recognises long-standing contributions, just as we do for other types of public service.
“Honours are routinely awarded to employees across the public sector, in post and on leaving.
“Political awards are a very small number compared to the overall number of honours granted each year through the regular New Year and Queen’s Birthday honours lists.
“This latest list recognises over 1,000 people for their service from all walks of life and all backgrounds.”
Of those, several were for campaigning for the rights of minorities.
Operation Black Vote’s Simon Woolley receives a knighthood for services to race equality.
Campaigners Nimco Ali and Dr Leyla Hussein both receive OBEs for services to tackling female genital mutilation and gender inequality.
Conservative Party treasurer Stuart Marks is awarded a CBE.
As well as raising cash from wealthy individuals and businesses, he has also given £164,800 to the Tories himself since 2013, some of which was donated by his start-up investment company.
Mr Marks said: “I rattle the tin, as they say, and raise funds.”
Hitting out at the awards for Home Office staff, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “ Theresa May is ending her term as Prime Minister with one final insult to all those who’ve been the victims of her hostile environment, especially members of the Windrush generation.
“Mr Williams presided over a litany of mistakes and scandals at the Home Office that saw far too many innocent people detained, deported and denied their rights.
“His is hardly a record worthy of a knighthood.
“May should be ending the hostile environment, not honouring the man who helped her create it.”
Labour MP Stephen Doughty, who sits on the Commons Home Affairs Committee which probed the Windrush fiasco, said: “It will be galling to victims of the Windrush scandal and other mess-ups in the Home Office over the past decade to see officials who oversaw these scandals rewarded so handsomely.
“This just shows again that for too many, honours are assumed as a given rather than being genuine rewards for people who have done great service to our country and communities.”
Among other Tory donors honoured are Joseph Musgrave who has given £3,000 in cash and receives an OBE.
Clive Leslie Wood is managing director of Tees Components, which has donated £39,000 to the party and its candidates. He is made an OBE.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Jon Trickett said: “It’s fitting that the last act of a Prime Minister who only ever looked after herself and her wealthy backers and allies, is to dish out honours to Tory cronies and donors.
“It’s a stitch-up, and the public know it.
“Theresa May might be on the way out, but the Conservatives will always be a party paid for by the rich and powerful that look after the rich and powerful.”
