Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on reports that Ian Taylor has asked not to be considered for a knighthood said:

“While I welcome the fact Ian Taylor has said he doesn’t want to be considered for a knighthood, it should not be his decision to make.

“Theresa May should have recognised immediately that the Tory old boys honours list put forward by David Cameron was packed full of cronies and she could still block it. The fact that she won’t is a gross failure of leadership.

“This episode shows that, despite the warm words May delivered about putting working people first, the Tories will always put their own interests before those of the country.”

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