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Labour have called for Geoffrey Boycott's knighthood to be revoked over abuse claims.

The England cricket legend is being handed a knighthood by Theresa May in her resignation honours list.

The cricketer said he 'couldn't give a toss, love' over the backlash to his honour despite a conviction for domestic violence.

But Labour have slammed the former PM for awarding the knighthood to her "favourite sportsman" describing it as "an insult to victims and survivors of domestic violence".

Boycott was convicted of punching his then-girlfriend Margaret Moore in 1998.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Yorkshireman Boycott, 78, was given a three-month suspended sentence and fined 50,000 francs (then £5,100) by a French court in January 1998 after being convicted of repeatedly punching Moore at a hotel in the south of France in October 1996.

Dawn Butler MP, Labour ’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, said: “Celebrating a man convicted of assaulting his partner by giving him a knighthood is an insult to victims and survivors of domestic violence.

“Honouring a perpetrator of domestic violence just because he is the former Prime Minister’s favourite sportsman shows how out of touch and nepotistic the honours list is.

“Boris Johnson should rescind his knighthood today. The whole honours system needs radically overhauling, alongside peerages, so that our political system works for the many not the few.”

Asked about accusations of cronyism over Theresa May's honours list, the PM says: "That's a matter for the former prime minister.

"Entirely up to her - it is at the discretion of the former prime minister.

"A lot of people work very hard in this country and very selflessly and it's important they should be rewarded.

"That's why we have an honours system. But that particular list - definitely a matter for her."

When questioned on the Today programme about the criticism of his knighthood today, Boycott replied “I couldn't give a toss”.

Speaking on the Today Programme on Radio 4, Boycott, now a celebrated cricketing pundit, was confronted about the conviction.

As presenter Martha Kearney began to quote Adina Claire, the co-acting chief executive of Women's Aid, the former England cricket captain said: "I don't give a toss about her, love.

"So you can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it. I couldn't give a toss."

He was commenting after Ms Claire said: "Celebrating a man who was convicted for assaulting his partner sends a dangerous message - that domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime.

(Image: Gareth Copley)

"With increasing awareness of domestic abuse, and a Domestic Abuse Bill ready to be taken forward by Government, it is extremely disappointing that a knighthood has been recommended for Geoffrey Boycott, who is a convicted perpetrator of domestic abuse."

Later in the interview Boycott implied that he backed Brexit because his conviction was in a French court.

He said: "It was 25 years ago love, in a French court, she tried to blackmail me for £1m. I said no.

"It's a court case in France where... you're guilty.

"It's one reason I don't vote to remain in Europe is you're guilty until you're proved innocent.

"That's totally the opposite from England. It's very difficult to prove you're innocent."

Boycott is reported to have responded to a question in 2017 about why he did not have a knighthood by saying they are handed out like “confetti” to West Indies cricketers and that he would need to “black up” in order to receive one.