Controversy surrounds honours as labour calls for return of donation

Mohamed Mansour, a Conservative senior treasurer, unexpectedly received a knighthood recommended by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This move stirred controversy due to Mansour’s £5m donation to the Conservative party the previous year. He was among several recipients honoured for their contributions to business, charity, and politics.

Mansour, who previously served as transport minister in Egypt under Hosni Mubarak’s regime, faced calls from Labour to return his donation after it was revealed that one of his family companies continued operations in Russia post-Ukraine invasion. Despite this, Mansour was bestowed with the knighthood, alongside other notable figures like Demis Hassabis, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Ted Sarandos.

Critics, including Labour chair Anneliese Dodds, condemned Sunak’s decision, suggesting it reflected arrogance or disregard for public opinion. Nevertheless, Downing Street defended the timing of the honours, attributing it to the need to update the list of MPs on the privy council.

In his autobiography, Mansour expressed gratitude for his UK connections and described his pride in serving the Conservative party. Meanwhile, another recipient, MP Philip Davies, expressed surprise and gratitude for his knighthood, noting his delight and sense of surrealism.

Davies, known for his right-wing stance and involvement with GB News, has faced controversy for breaching impartiality rules and advocating for men’s rights and the gambling industry in parliament