Rishi Sunak vows not to knight his dad in thinly-veiled dig at Boris Johnson

10 March 2023 , 16:51

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Rishi Sunak has pledged not to give his dad a knighthood (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak’s dad will be getting a card for Father’s Day, not a knighthood, the Prime Minister quipped as he delivered a thinly-veiled rebuke to Boris Johnson.

Shamed former premier Mr Johnson plans to give his father a knighthood in his delayed resignation honours list, according to reports.

The proposed gong triggered fury because of previous allegations against Stanley Johnson, 82.

Speaking as he travelled to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the current PM took a swipe at his predecessor’s bid to reward his father a gong.

Asked if he would ever nominate a family member for an honour, Mr Sunak said: “For me a big success is remembering to get my dad a card on Fathers’ Day, so that is probably about my limit of it.”

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Rishi Sunak's dad Yashvir (left) won't be getting made a Sir, the PM said (Daily Echo/Solent News)

Pressed if that should be taken as a “No”, he said: “Yes.

“As I said, if I am doing a card I’m doing well, love my dad as I do.”

While there may be disappointment for Mr Sunak’s father Yashvir, Mr Johnson senior would be a controversial Sir.

Last year, senior Tory MP Caroline Nokes publicly accused the former MEP of inappropriate behaviour Conservative Party conferences.

Ms Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, accused Stanley Johnson of smacking her on the bottom and saying "you've got a lovely seat" at Tory conference in 2003.

Stanley Johnson later said after that he had "no recollection" of the incident.

Mr Sunak said today: “There is always comment and speculation about honours lists beforehand. I’m not going to comment on speculation.

“I don’t see these things until I see them so it is hard for me to say any more than that.”

Ben Glaze