Key Takeaways
- Craig Williams and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson were both removed from the UK Privy Council on 10 July 2024 following separate scandals.
- The Privy Council, a historic advisory body to the monarch, comprises life‑appointed former or current MPs and Lords; as of August 2026 it has 741 members.
- Williams, a former parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak, pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling after placing a £100 bet on the date of the 2024 general election, losing his seat and subsequently being stripped of his Privy Councillorship.
- Donaldson, former DUP leader and MP for Lagan Valley, was convicted in June 2024 of historical child‑sex abuse offences (18 charges, including rape) and is awaiting sentencing; his knighthood was also revoked.
- The honours‑stripping decisions were praised by local Conservative councillor Liam Walker, who argued that serious criminal convictions justify removal of honours to protect the integrity of the system.
- King Charles III has overseen a broader wave of honour removals, including the MBE of former Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer, whose honour was withdrawn after a contempt‑of‑court conviction related to unpaid solicitor fees.
- Both cases illustrate how the UK government and monarchy respond to serious misconduct by withdrawing formal honours and council memberships, reinforcing accountability at the highest levels.
The Privy Council: A Brief Overview
The Privy Council of the United Kingdom is one of the oldest institutions of government, tracing its roots to the medieval royal council. Today it formally advises the monarch on the exercise of the royal prerogative and the issuance of royal charters. Membership is drawn largely from current or former members of the House of Commons or House of Lords; once appointed, individuals serve for life unless the honour is removed. As of August 2026 the council comprised 741 privy councillors, reflecting its broad, cross‑party composition.
Craig Williams: From Parliamentary Aide to Gambling Scandal
Craig Williams served as parliamentary private secretary to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from October 2022 until June 2024 and was sworn in as a Privy Counsellor in November 2023. Just three days before the announcement of the 2024 general election date, he placed a £100 bet that the election would be held in July. The bet became part of a wider investigation involving several Conservative Party members, was referred to the Gambling Commission, and led to the withdrawal of party support for Williams. He subsequently lost his parliamentary seat and, on 29 June 2026, pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling, prompting his removal from the Privy Council.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: Political Career and Criminal Conviction
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024 and had a long parliamentary career, representing Lagan Valley in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2024 and serving in the Northern Ireland Assembly between 2003 and 2010. He also participated in a high‑profile Oxford Union debate in 2004, arguing against talking to Sinn Fein. In June 2024, Donaldson was convicted at Newry Crown Court of historical child‑sex abuse offences relating to two women when they were children, spanning 1985‑2008. The verdict included 18 sex offences, among them one count of rape. He is presently held at Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing, and his solicitor has lodged papers for an appeal.
Consequences: Removal from the Privy Council and Honours
Following their respective convictions, both Williams and Donaldson were dismissed from the Privy Council on 10 July 2024. In addition, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood. Local Conservative councillor Liam Walker welcomed the decision, stating that honours are awarded to recognise outstanding service and achievement, and that anyone convicted of serious criminal offences has forfeited the privilege of holding them. Walker argued that stripping such honours helps protect the integrity and value of the honours system.
Broader Context: King Charles III’s Honours Reviews
The removals of Williams’s and Donaldson’s honours are part of a larger trend under King Charles III. Earlier in 2024 and 2025, the King approved the withdrawal of more than 20 other honours from individuals whose conduct had brought the honours system into disrepute. One notable case involved former Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer, who had been awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to entrepreneurship. In August 2025 her MBE was revoked after she received a six‑month suspended sentence for contempt of court, stemming from repeated failures to submit documents and attend hearings concerning £200,000 in unpaid solicitor fees to Farrer & Co. The King’s office cited the need to uphold the credibility of the honours system.
Public and Political Reaction
The dismissals prompted a mixture of relief and concern across the political spectrum. Supporters of the Privy Council’s integrity praised the swift action as a necessary safeguard against abuse of positions of trust. Critics, however, warned that the process must remain transparent and that political motivations should not influence honour‑removal decisions. The cases have renewed debate about the appropriate thresholds for stripping honours and whether lifetime appointments to bodies like the Privy Council should be revisited in light of modern accountability standards.
Implications for the Privy Council’s Future
The simultaneous removal of two high‑profile members underscores the Privy Council’s vulnerability to reputational damage when individuals attached to it fall foul of the law. It may prompt a review of the vetting and monitoring procedures for privy councillors, especially given their lifetime tenure. Some commentators suggest introducing periodic reviews or clearer mechanisms for removing members who breach criminal or ethical standards, thereby preserving the council’s role as a credible advisory institution to the Crown.
Conclusion
The July 2024 dismissals of Craig Williams and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson from the Privy Council illustrate how the UK’s highest honours and advisory bodies respond to serious misconduct. While the Privy Council remains a constitutionally significant institution, these events highlight the necessity of robust accountability mechanisms to maintain public confidence. The broader pattern of honour removals under King Charles III signals a renewed commitment to ensuring that distinctions such as knighthoods, MBEs, and privy councillorship are reserved for those whose conduct upholds the values they are meant to represent.