Dear Mrs May,

We have had a week of very damaging revelations about the high number of friends and associates of your predecessor David Cameron, who have rewarded for their political loyalties and donations in his resignation honours list.

On publication of the list, it has now been confirmed that highly sensitive and confidential information regarding those being considered for honours has been leaked.

This affair undermines the honours system of Great Britain, and will cause embarrassment to the Palace. Perhaps most regrettably, it will be disheartening for all those people who have worked hard to serve this country and who will be humbled and excited at the prospect of receiving an honour. Those people come from all walks of life, from the voluntary sector, to small business owners, to members of the public who have served us in myriad ways. They may now feel implicated in this scandal, with a shadow cast over their great achievements, through no fault of their own.

I hope you support my call to undertake a full inquiry into how the list was leaked. I wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office regarding this issue yesterday and attach a copy for your information.

The inquiry must establish how the leak occurred but responsibility for addressing the inadequacy of the resignation honours process is down to you. Will you confirm that you will not use this discretionary power? Will you continue to reform the loopholes that allow abuse of royal prerogative powers by resignation lists to be scrutinised by an appropriate committee of the House of Commons?

I find it astonishing that you have not thought it useful to issue a single statement on this week’s revelations to let us know what action you are taking. I invite you to reassure the the hard working people who have deservedly been awarded honours in the past that you intend to deal with abuses to the system. You can do this by giving us your assessment of the situation and the concrete actions you are taking to restore faith in our honours system, as a matter of urgency.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Watson MP

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party