Boris Johnson has reportedly nominated his father Stanley for a knighthood.
Those who have made significant contributions to charity, business, science, sport, the arts, and other spheres of public life are frequently given such honours.
Moreover, they are occasionally granted to the parties and allies of the prime minister.
Often, panels of impartial experts who have achieved distinction in their disciplines would recommend awards.
How do you nominate someone for an honour?
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour.
You’ll need to write a detailed description explaining why you’re nominating them. There’s guidance on how to write a nomination.
You’ll also need:
- your nominee’s name, age, address, and contact details
- details of relevant work or volunteering they’ve done
- details of any awards or other recognition they’ve received
- two supporting letters to back up your nomination - these should be from people who know the nominee personally
What are the requirements for a knighthood?
According to the government website, the person you nominate must still be actively involved in what you’re nominating them for. The only honours which can be awarded after someone’s death are gallantry awards.
The decision is then made by an honours committee. The committee’s recommendations go to the Prime Minister and then to the King, who awards the honour.
Who else has Boris helped out?
Last year, Sir Gavin Williamson, the South Staffordshire representative, received a knighthood from Johnson, despite being a controversial figure.
Since Sir Gavin oversaw the examinations debacle during the Covid epidemic while serving as the defence and education secretaries, opponents claimed he had been rewarded for failing in those roles.
The history of knighthoods
Dating back to the Norman Conquest in 1066, the appointment of Knights Bachelor or “bachelor of England” has a long history.
Appointments to Orders of Chivalry had been exclusive before King George V established the Order of British Empire (the OBE list) in 1917.
The start of World War One and the sacrifices made by people from all walks of life sparked a desire to expand the honours system.
Throughout political speeches over the past century, concerns regarding whether or not it is subject to financial or political influence have always been prominent and frequently become a topic of contention.
In 1922, liberal prime minister David Lloyd George was implicated in a significant “cash for patronage” scandal because of his list.
Although purchasing peerages was permissible at the time, Mr Lloyd George was accused of doing so in order to finance his political party.
His brazenness in doing so incited uproar. He created a “price list” for the honors, charging £10,000 for a knighthood, £30,000 for a baronetcy, and upwards of £50,000 for a peerage.
There were more than 120 hereditary peers created between 1917 and 1922, albeit their numbers have since decreased.
