Michael Gove has been awarded a peerage in ex-PM Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours.
One-time Conservative Party leadership candidate Gove held numerous cabinet briefs between 2010 and 2024, including education secretary, environment secretary and levelling-up secretary. He was also minister for the Cabinet Office from February 2020 to September 2021, where he spearheaded the Declaration on Government Reform programme.
He will be joined in the House of Lords by former cabinet colleagues Mark Harper, Victoria Prentis, Sir Alister Jack and Simon Hart.
Gove's citation praises his work in introducing greater devolution across England and says he "resolved the building safety crisis", in a clear reference to failings exposed by the Grenfell Tower disaster. It also says he secured investment in innovation across the UK and adds that as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 2019-21 he "coordinated the response of public services to Covid and strengthened the governance of the United Kingdom".
Meanwhile, the expected peerage for ex-Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman, who was HM chief inspector of education, children’s services and skills from 2017-23, has been confirmed.
Nominated by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch,Spielman’s citation salutes her two terms leading Ofsted for “promoting substance and integrity in education for all children and young people, and also high-quality social care”. Spielman previously chaired exams regulator Ofqual, led a cross-government review of non-economic regulators, and served as research and policy director at ARK Schools academy trust.
Others awarded peerages on Sunak's resignation list include former head of the No.10 Policy Unit Eleanor Shawcross, former transport secretary Mark Harper, and ex-attorney general Victoria Prentis.
Shawcross’s citation highlights her efforts overseeing all domestic policy work, including preparations for Budgets. “She led on the smoking ban, expanding the school curriculum for 16–19-year-olds, and the NHS recovery plans,” it adds. Shawcross previously worked as an adviser at HM Treasury and as a non-executive director at the Department for Work and Pensions. She is the daughter of commissioner for public appointments Sir William Shawcross.
Elsewhere, Sunak’s resignation list bestows knighthoods on former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, former home secretary James Cleverly, former defence secretary Grant Shapps, and former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell. Former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride – now shadow chancellor – also receives a knighthood.
Theresa Villiers, who was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2012-16 and later served as environment secretary in 2019-20, is made a dame.
Additionally, Sunak bestowed honours on his former civil service principal private secretary Elizabeth Perelman – who now runs the Office of Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak, overseeing the couple's work. She is made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
The resignation honours also salute around a dozen of Sunak's special advisers.
John Bew, who was foreign policy advisor to successive prime minisers from 2019-2024, is made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
Former No.10 director of communications Nerissa Chesterfield, former head of operations Lisa Lovering and former deputy chiefs of staff William Tanner and Rupert Yorke are made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire.
Former press secretary to the prime minister Lucy Noakes, Sunak's former official speechwriter Robert Trotter, and special adviser on artificial intelligence Henry de Zoete are among those made Officers of the Order of the British Empire.