The controversial award of a knighthood to British Prime Minister David Cameron's Australian election strategist Lynton Crosby has sparked calls for an overhaul of the UK honours system.
The 58-year-old election guru's gong in the New Year Honours List has sparked claims of political cronyism, with one opposition MP calling it "an insult to the country's heroes".
Mr Crosby, who has been dubbed the "Wizard of Oz", started working for Mr Cameron in 2013 and is credited with masterminding the Conservative party's first outright win for more than 30 years in May.
Previously he had helped Boris Johnson become mayor of London and was also instrumental in former Australian prime minister John Howard's run of four election victories.
Mr Crosby's knighthood was one of more than 15 awards bestowed on politicians, political party donors and advisors for "political service".
But that has prompted claims Mr Cameron is demeaning the honours system by rewarding cronyism rather than dedicated public service.
Labour MP John Mann condemned Mr Crosby's knighthood as "an insult to the country's heroes".
"We can all think of hundreds of people who were very deserving but did not receive an honour, but now this political apparatchik from Australia has got one ... it's tawdry."
Sir Alistair Graham, a former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said such awards demeaned the system.
"It is just honours for political favours ... I am totally against using honours for political activity."
But a Conservative Party spokesman said working for a political party strengthened civic democracy and contributed to public life.
"It is quite right we recognise long-standing political service, just as we do other types of public service."
In an editorial on Thursday, The Times newspaper called for "a thorough makeover" of the honours system that had been devalued by the inclusion of people "who have no compelling reason to be there".
The Independent newspaper, under the headline "New Year Cronies list", noted that Mr Crosby's knighthood marked "a new low for the heavily tarnished honours system".
As a Conservative Party strategist Mr Crosby became embroiled in a row over his links to the tobacco industry.
He was forced to deny playing any part in the government's decision to shelve plans for cigarette plain packaging when it emerged his lobbying consultancy CTF had been working for tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris.
Britain's Labour Party also highlighted his tax arrangements after he was linked to a network of offshore companies.
