East Lancashire MP and Conservative Party chair Jake Berry has been awarded a knighthood by ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his resignation honours list.
Mr Berry, 43, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, is getting the knighthood for “political and public service to the North of England”.
Elected to represent Rossendale and Darwen in 2010, soon-to-be Sir Jake took the seat after it had been held by Labour for 18 years.
He has served in a number of roles in government over the years, from being a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Communities and Local Government and Cabinet Office, serving in the Number 10 Policy Unit, and as Northern Powerhouse minister, Minister of State, on the Privy Council and as party chair.
He has also chaired the Northern Research Group of backbench Tory MPs calling for investment in the North repeatedly during his time as a Member of Parliament.
When Liz Truss became Prime Minister he was made Tory party chair, taking the place of fellow East Lancashire Tory, Pendle's Andrew Stephenson, who was dumped from the role after a summer as chair.
Mr Berry, a father of three, supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum but accepted the result of the vote.
He made headlines during the recent Tory party conference when he said that people struggling with their energy bills should either “use less or go out and get a better paying job”, comments he was later forced to apologise for.
In a statement published on the Government website, it said: “The King has been pleased to approve that the honour of Knighthood be conferred upon John Whittingdale OBE MP and James (Jake) Berry MP, and that the honour of Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George be conferred upon James Duddridge MP.
“The Prime Minister has recommended these honours to the King, further to advice from the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP.”
Mr Berry, along with fellow MPs John Whittingdale and James Duddridge, are the first people to be knighted by King Charles III.
A number of peerages have also been handed out following Boris Johnson’s acrimonious exit from Downing Street.
Jake Berry was contacted for comment on his honour but did not answer.
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