1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours

The 1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were officially announced in two supplements to The London Gazette of 1 August 1997 (published 2 August 1997) and marked the May 1997 resignation of the Prime Minister, John Major.[1]

John Major in 1996

A notable omission from the list was Norman Lamont, who was overlooked for a life peerage in what was seen as a snub for the former Chancellor of the Exchequer who had become one of Major's most prominent critics.[2] Despite this, Major’s successor as leader William Hague appointed Lamont to the Lords the following year.

Included in the announced list were new "working peers": 31 new Labour life peers recommended by Tony Blair to reduce the Tory majority; Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat leader, recommended 11 new Liberal Democrat life peers; five were recommended by William Hague, the new Conservative Leader.

The recipients of the major classes of honours are displayed below, as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged by honour.

Life peerages

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Conservative "working peers"

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  • The Right Honourable Sir John Ambrose Cope, lately Member of Parliament for Northavon; Deputy Chairman, Conservative Party, 1990–92; Paymaster General, 1992–94. (created Baron Cope of Berkeley, of Berkeley in the County of Gloucestershire)
  • The Right Honourable William Armand Thomas Tristan Garel-Jones, lately Member of Parliament for Watford; Deputy Chief Whip, 1989–90; Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1990-93. (created Baron Garel-Jones, of Watford in the County of Hertfordshire)
  • The Right Honourable Sir Hector Seymour Peter Monro, A.E., D.L., lately Member of Parliament for Dumfries; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office, 1971–74; Department of the Environment, 1979–81; Scottish Office, 1992-95. (created Baron Monro of Langholm, of Westerkirk in the County of Dumfries & Galloway)
  • The Right Honourable Michael Wolfgang Laurence Morris, lately Member of Parliament for Northampton South; Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker, House of Commons, 1992-97. (created Baron Naseby, of Sandy in the County of Bedfordshire)
  • The Right Honourable Sir leuan Wyn Pritchard Roberts, lately Member of Parliament for Conwy; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, 1979–87; Minister of State, 1987-94, Welsh Office. (created Baron Roberts of Conwy, of Talyfan in the County of Gwynedd)

Labour "working peers"

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Liberal Democrat "working peers"

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Knights Bachelor

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  • Robert Atkins, former Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Environment, Sport, Transport, Trade and Industry (Later MEP, 1999)
  • Peter Brown, constituency agent to John Major
  • Michael Forsyth, former Scottish Secretary, 1995-97 (later Lord Forsyth of Drumlean)
  • Anthony Garrett CBE, Director, Campaigning Department, Conservative Central Office
  • Brian Mawhinney, former Transport Secretary (1994–95), Chairman of the Conservative Party (1995–97), later Shadow Home Secretary (1997–98) (later Lord Mawhinney)
  • Richard Needham, former Minister for Northern Ireland and Trade (inherited title of Earl of Kilmorey)
  • Neville Trotter, former Conservative MP for Tynemouth
  • John Ward, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, 1994–97

Order of the Companions of Honour

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Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

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Order of St Michael and St George

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Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

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Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

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  • John Holmes, Private Secretary, Prime Minister's Office (Overseas Affairs)

Order of the British Empire

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Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

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  • Jonathan Haslam, Former Chief Press Secretary, Number 10
  • Howell James, Former Political Secretary, Number 10
  • Professor Lord McColl of Dulwich, Former Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1995–97
  • Michael Trend, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party 1995–2000.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

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  • Mark Adams, Private Secretary, Prime Minister's Office (Parliamentary Affairs)
  • John Bridge, Constituency chairman to John Major
  • Trevor Butler, Detective Superintendent, Metropolitan Police Service
  • Daniel Finkelstein, Director of Research, Conservative Central Office
  • Gina Hearn, Constituency Secretary to John Major
  • Charles Lewington, Former Director of Communications, Conservative Central Office
  • Eileen, Lady Strathnaver, Former Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine
  • William Geoffrey Thompson, Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Andrew Woods, Former agent to John Major
  • Moira Wallace, Private Secretary, Number 10 (Economic Affairs)

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

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  • Deborah Ailes, Senior Personal Secretary, Prime Minister's Office
  • Noelle Berney, Co-ordinator of Kurdish Life Aid (for humanitarian services)
  • Maureen Bick, Cleaner, Prime Minister's Office
  • James Bridge, Former Assistant Political Secretary, Prime Minister's Office
  • Penelope Brook, Head of Speakers' Department, Conservative Central Office
  • Christine Ferns, Switchboard Supervisor, Prime Minister's Office
  • Vanessa Ford, Head of Chairman's Office, Conservative Central Office
  • Sheila Gunn, Press Officer, Conservative Central Office
  • Leading Wren Linda Lalley, Stewardess at Chequers (Royal Navy)
  • Judy Moorhouse, Former Secretary to the Political Secretary, Prime Minister's Office
  • Lorne Roper-Caldbeck, Secretary to Prime Minister's wife, Norma Major
  • Robert Rumble, Driver to Prime Minister John Major
  • Arabella Warburton, Former Personal Assistant in the Prime Minister's Office
  • Michael York, Messenger, Prime Minister's Office

References

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  1. ^ "No. 54850". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1997. pp. 8911–8914.
    "No. 54851". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1997. pp. 8909–8910.
  2. ^ Daily Telegraph: "Major snubs Lamont in honours list".

Sources

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  • The Independent, 2 August 1997