British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday gave his brother Jo a former junior minister who quit over his elder siblings approach to leaving the European Union a top honour with a seat in the upper House of Lords.<\/p>\n
Former premier Theresa Mays husband Philip will also receive a knighthood for political service, the government said, as it unveiled a list of 36 nominations.<\/p>\n
The former House of Commons speaker John Bercow, who repeatedly tried to foil the governments Brexit plans, however, was denied a seat in the upper house.<\/p>\n
He is the first former speaker in over two centuries not to receive the honour.<\/p>\n
Other notable new lords include the Russian-born British newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev and the Brexit-supporting cricketer Ian Botham.<\/p>\n
But the nominations drew scorn from Johnsons political foes.<\/p>\n
He has displayed the worst kind of cronyism by giving jobs for life to friends and those who have done him favours, opposition Scottish National Party lawmaker Pete Wishart said.<\/p>\n
Brexit supporters accused Bercow of creating voting obstacles in the year it took bickering lawmakers to finally ratify Britains divorce deal with the EU.<\/p>\n
A 2018 report also accused Bercow of presiding over a culture in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive in parliament. He denied the allegations.<\/p>\n
But he also enjoyed his fair share of successes.<\/p>\n
His bellows of Order! Order! during the Brexit saga went viral and made him briefly into an international media star.<\/p>\n
Bercow published a candid autobiography and joined the lucrative lecture circuit after stepping down in October.<\/p>\n
The House of Lords will now comprise more than 800 members because peers are allowed to resign or retire but are otherwise expected to serve for life.<\/p>\n
This list of new peers marks a lost opportunity to reduce numbers in the House of Lords, House of Lords speaker Peter Fowler said.<\/p>\n
Fowlers office had recommended cutting the chamber down to 600 members tops.<\/p>\n
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British PM Boris Johnson hands brother top honour - Macau Business<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday gave his brother Jo a former junior minister who quit over his elder siblings approach to leaving the European Union a top honour with a seat in the upper House of Lords. Former premier Theresa Mays husband Philip will also receive a knighthood for political service, the government said, as it unveiled a list of 36 nominations. Continue reading