Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be “unwise” to nominate his own father for a knighthood, according to a government minister.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said on BBC Question Time that prime ministers should “absolutely not” bestow honors on family members.
It comes after reports that Mr Johnson planned to honor his father, former MEP Stanley, with his resignation.
Labour demanded that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak veto any such nomination.
According to the BBC, Mr Johnson’s list will now only include around 50 names, down from the 100 previously reported by a number of newspapers.
Outgoing prime ministers in the United Kingdom can request that the monarch bestow peerages, knighthoods, and other honors on any number of people of their choice.
According to reports this week, Mr Johnson, who stepped down in September after a series of scandals forced mass resignations from his government, intended to include his father on his list.
From 1979 to 1984, Stanley Johnson was a Conservative member of the European Parliament representing the Wight and Hampshire East constituency. He also worked for the World Bank and the European Commission, and he authored several books on environmental issues.
When asked about the reports, Mr Jenrick, who served as housing secretary in Mr Johnson’s cabinet for two years, said: “Is it wise for a prime minister to nominate a member of his or her own family for an honor? No, it does not.”
“We’ll have to see what eventually is on this list and what the government chooses to do,” he added.
There have been calls for Mr Sunak to prevent Stanley Johnson from being knighted if his name is proposed.
Mr Johnson, as prime minister, appointed his brother Jo, a former Conservative minister, to the House of Lords.
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On Question Time, shadow Home Secretary Sarah Jones said Mr Sunak “needs to make it crystal clear” that Mr Johnson could not nominate his own father for an honor.
According to reports this week, Mr Johnson was told by officials to reduce the number of people on his list after initially proposing nearly 100.
One ally of Mr Johnson’s told the BBC his list was “shorter than David Cameron’s or Theresa May’s so everyone can relax”.
When Mr Cameron resigned, he nominated 59 people for honours, while Ms May nominated 51.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman declined to comment on whether he planned to nominate his father for a knighthood.
“We do not comment on speculation about honors,” a Cabinet Office spokesperson said.