Starmer’s Slippery Slope on Resignation Honours

The news that Keir Starmer may award resignation honours when he leaves No 10 has sparked a predictable outcry among Labour’s grassroots and its media allies. This development raises questions about the Labour leader’s integrity and whether his promises are mere campaign slogans.

Starmer’s past stance on resignation honours was clear-cut: in 2023, as opposition leader, he vowed not to award them when he eventually stood down. He criticized Rishi Sunak for allowing Boris Johnson to hand out a series of awards to his allies, describing it as “difficult to justify.” Now that Starmer is on the brink of leaving office himself, he has taken a more ambiguous approach.

The fact that Starmer twice declined to rule out drawing up a list of honours suggests that he may be preparing for a way out. As one former Labour MP noted, “When Keir says ‘we’ll look at that in the usual course of things,’ it’s like saying I might have a surprise party planned for my enemies.” This kind of vagueness from a leader who promised transparency is hardly reassuring.

The issue at hand is not just about Starmer’s personal integrity but also about the implications for future Labour leaders. If he proceeds with resignation honours, it would set a damaging precedent that undermines his own opposition to the practice when Johnson and Sunak employed it. This hypocrisy highlights the problem of politicians who change their tune depending on their circumstances.

Resignation honours have become contentious due to their association with cronyism and the perception that they are used to reward party loyalists rather than those who truly deserve recognition. Labour leaders should be held to the same standard of accountability as their Conservative counterparts, a principle Liz Truss’s short-lived tenure notwithstanding did not exemplify.

Starmer’s backing for Andy Burnham in the Labour leadership contest has raised eyebrows. While Burnham is a well-respected figure within the party, his elevation to the top spot would cement Starmer’s influence over Labour’s next leader, reminiscent of cozy relationships between leaders and their handpicked successors.

As the nominations process concludes, it remains to be seen whether Starmer will adhere to his original stance on resignation honours. If he does decide to award them, it would demonstrate a shocking lack of principle from a leader who has often spoken about restoring integrity in British politics. The implications for Labour’s reputation and its future leaders would be far-reaching.

The legacy of Keir Starmer’s leadership will be defined not just by his policies but also by how he navigates his departure from office. As the party prepares for its next chapter under Burnham or another contender, it is clear that Starmer’s decision on resignation honours will have lasting consequences for Labour’s future.