WJC named his Monica.
Brexit baubles: Theresa May issues knighthood and Privy Council appointments ahead of crucial vote
Earlier this week, Tory Brexiteers claimed Theresa May and government whips would use their power of patronage to influence next month's big Commons vote on the EU withdrawal deal.
And just days later, late on Friday afternoon, Downing Street started handing out baubles: a knighthood for a veteran eurosceptic ex-minister and appointments to the Privy Council for two senior parliamentary business managers.
The knighthood goes to John Hayes, a right-winger who prospered when Iain Duncan Smith was Tory leader, held ministerial posts under David Cameron and has - so far - questioned the prime minister's Brexit deal.
A colourful character who is popular and influential on the Tory right, he is MP for the Lincolnshire Fens constituency of South Holland and the Deepings, which voted 71% for Leave in the 2016 referendum.
But, significantly, he has not written a no-confidence letter to the 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, and, crucially, has not yet declared how he will vote on the Brexit deal when it comes to the Commons.
Joining the Privy Council are the government's deputy chief whip, Christopher Pincher, and Labour's pairing whip, Mark Tami, both of who will be major players in the numbers battle ahead of the big vote.
Membership of the Privy Council is one of the most coveted perks for MPs. All cabinet ministers and many senior backbenchers are privy councillors and are called right honourable members instead of honourable members.
https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-baubles-theresa-may-issues-knighthood-and-privy-council-appointments-ahead-of-crucial-vote-11561532