Former EU foreign affairs boss Baroness Ashton's new title raises eyebrows
THE Honours List has some controversial awards – including former European union foreign affairs boss Baroness Ashton.
Cressida Dick, the UK's most senior female police officer gets a CBE
The Labour peer, once the world’s highest-paid female politician, will be made a Dame Grand Cross for her work in Brussels over the past five years.
She triggered a string of spending rows as head of the European External Action Service – which cost British taxpayers £420million a year to run.
Baroness Ashton, 58, who got an annual salary of £230,000, retired this year – but will be paid a transitional allowance of £133,000 over three years.
A ukip spokesman said: “The fact we see Baroness Ashton go into 2015 with a shiny new title is unlikely to please many.
"It’s after great criticism in her role running a foreign affairs office in The Met’s Cressida Dick CBE the Eu – which many do not think should exist.”
Former Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf, who quit earlier this year as chair of the inquiry into historic child abuse, will get a Damehood.
Head of Civil Service Sir Bob Kerslake said: “Fiona has a distinguished track record as Lord Mayor and as a lawyer. The grounds were there in their own right for an honour.”
But Labour Mp John Mann said: “The timing is unfortunate to say the least. It will create a lot of anger among those leading the charge on historic sex abuse.”
Cressida Dick, the uK’s most senior female police officer, gets a CBE.
She is leaving the Met after 31 years – and headed the 2005 operation which led to Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes being shot seven times after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.