Major Tory donor and four Conservative MPs handed honours

A major Tory donor and four Conservative MPs have been awarded honours after being recommended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Donor Mohamed Mansour, who gave £5 million to the Tories in 2023 and is a senior treasurer at the party, was knighted alongside four Tory MPs, including farming minister Mark Spencer and former sports minister Tracey Crouch.

The Labour Party's Anneliese Dodds has criticised the move from Mr Sunak, saying the appointments show 'a blatant disrespect' for the office of Prime Minister.

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Senior No 10 sources pointed to Sir Mohamed’s charitable work and record of public service, including support for The Prince’s Foundation – now The King’s Foundation – and a major contributor to St Paul’s Cathedral’s Remember Me project, which raised money for a physical memorial to those who died of Covid-19 in the UK.

The timing of the announcement, while Parliament is in recess and on the eve of the Easter bank holiday weekend, has also raised eyebrows – although sources said the timing of the honours was linked to the need to make appointments to the Privy Council, including the new First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething.

Responding to the move, Anneliese Dodds said: “This is either the arrogant act of an entitled man who’s stopped caring what the public thinks, or the demob-happy self-indulgence of someone who doesn’t expect to be Prime Minister much longer.

“Either way, it shows a blatant disrespect for the office he should feel privileged to hold.”

Other recipients of honours include Philip Davies – whose wife is the Government’s “common sense” minister Esther McVey – who has been knighted for