Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is causing a stir with a tradition. Now his dispute with the current government threatens to escalate.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has once again been accused of nepotism. In the traditional “Resignation Honours”, with which British heads of government can honor meritorious personalities after their departure, the conservative politician wants his father Stanley Johnson (82) to be honored with the title of “Sir”, reports the newspaper “The Times”. . The former MEP is one of 100 people on Johnson’s list.

The Times criticized the plans as morally wrong. The Minister of Culture, Michelle Donelan, for her part, was relaxed. There are significantly bigger problems, she told broadcaster LBC.

Other personal details could also cause emotion. According to the Times, Johnson wants to appoint four incumbent Conservative MPs, including his confidante Nadine Dorries, as life members of the House of Lords. That would trigger new elections in MPs’ constituencies: the Tories, according to polls, face serious defeats in each case.

The final decision on the “Resignation Honours” rests with the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. If Sunak vetoes the wishes of Johnson, his internal party critic, the row between the politicians is likely to escalate. However, if he approves of his predecessor’s proposals, Sunak himself is likely to come under fire.

Even before Johnson, Prime Ministers honored friends of the party or close associates with their “resignation honours”. However, Johnson, 58, has already appointed dozens of members of the House of Lords, including his brother Jo, as Baron Johnson of Marylebone.

Critics have long called for a reform of the nomination process. With more than 800 members, the House of Lords is the largest parliamentary chamber in the world after the Chinese People’s Congress. The upper house, once the country’s most powerful parliamentary chamber, now has a mainly advisory role. Members can postpone laws, but not prevent them.