Knighthood for official accused of referring Boris Johnson to police

The mandarin accused of referring Boris Johnson to police over the latest Partygate allegations has been given a gong.

Alex Chisholm, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, was knighted for public service in the King’s birthday honours list.

The Partygate scandal erupted again last month over fresh concerns that Mr Johnson breached Covid-era lockdown rules.

The allegations centre on what are thought to be 16 gatherings at No 10 and at the prime minister’s grace and favour country house, Chequers.

Mr Johnson accused the Cabinet Office of making “bizarre and unacceptable” claims about him after the department referred him to police over the potential breaches. A statement from his office insisted “the events in question were all within the rules”.

Mr Johnson is already embroiled in a separate honours row with Rishi Sunak after his close ally Nadine Dorries was denied a peerage last week.

Within hours she announced she was quitting as an MP.

That same evening Mr Johnson shocked Westminster by also announcing he was leaving parliament – after he was given early sight of the results of a damning parliamentary probe which found he repeatedly lied over Partygate.

Claire Bullivant, the editor of the Conservative Post and chief executive of the Conservative Democratic Organisation founded by the ex-PM's allies, said: “Wow. Hand over the Boris diaries to police and the Cabinet Office puts you forward for a knighthood but Nadine Dorries is denied. It tells you everything you need to know doesn't it?”

Government sources insisted the gong had nothing to do with recent events. It is understood the process takes more than six months.

They also stressed that Rishi Sunak played no active role in deciding who received an award, saying the only involvement of prime ministers was a form of “procedural” sign-off.