Prime Minister Theresa May will not interfere with the official process of approving her predecessor David Cameron's resignation honours list despite allegations of cronyism, Downing Street has said.

Following a leak of the list, opposition MPs demanded a complete overhaul of the system after it was claimed the former PM is pushing to reward personal aides, political donors and senior figures on the losing Remain campaign.

Mrs May was under pressure to intervene but a spokeswoman said the new premier would not interfere in decisions of the honours committees, which are independent of No 10.

"It is standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list," the spokeswoman said.

"The names on the list were at the former prime minister's discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees.

"It would set a very bad precedent for a new prime minister to interfere in the official processes."