THE awarding of knighthoods for ministers sacked in this week's Coalition reshuffle has been branded as nothing more than dishing out consolation prizes, which threatens to discredit the system.

In exchanges in the House of Commons, Labour's Paul Flynn said: "The distribution of consolation prizes to sacked ministers is likely to bring the honours system into further disrepute."

Andrew Lansley, the new Commons Leader, replied: "In this House and elsewhere, what we should do is honour public service and this is a mechanism for honouring public service."

Backbencher Diana Johnson, a Labour former minister, asked why no honours had been granted to female ministers sacked from their jobs by David Cameron.

Mr Lansley replied: "Matters relating to honours are matters for the Prime Minister."

Kevin Brennan, the Shadow Education Minister, said: "Isn't giving honours to losers in a reshuffle an example of the 'all shall have prizes' culture the Prime Minister claims to denigrate?"

The Prime Minister's spokesman insisted that Mr Cameron had decided to recommend honours to the Queen for those who had an outstanding record of political and public service; they did not have to be approved by Whitehall's honours committee.

He said this sort of thing had happened before but could not give examples.