Keir Starmer Allies Anneliese Dodds and Jonathan Ashworth Recognised in 2025 New Year Honours
Anneliese Dodds and Jonathan Ashworth, allies of Labour leader Keir Starmer, have been honoured in the 2025 New Year Honours list. Dodds, the Member of Parliament for Oxford East since 2017, was named a Dame. She formerly served as international development minister and shadow chancellor under Starmer before resigning in February 2025 over plans to cut international aid to fund defence spending.
Jonathan Ashworth, who represented Leicester South from 2011 until his defeat in July 2024 to Shockat Adam, was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He led the Labour Together group until July 2024, an organisation linked to Starmer's team that has been scrutinised by Conservatives following a 2021 Electoral Commission fine for failing to report £740,000 in donations. Ashworth received recognition for his political and parliamentary service as well as his charity work supporting children of alcoholics. He is a patron of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics and has publicly spoken about his own experiences with an alcoholic father.
Other notable recipients include Sarah Clarke, the former Black Rod and the first woman to hold that role, who was awarded a damehood after stepping down in July 2024 following over seven years of service. Adam Ingram, former Labour MP for East Kilbride from 1987 to 2010 and who served as Northern Ireland and armed forces minister under Tony Blair, was knighted. Chris Ruane, ex-Welsh Labour MP for Vale of Clwyd, received an OBE for his parliamentary and political service and wellbeing efforts, including co-founding a mindfulness programme in Westminster in 2013.
