An ally of Sir Keir Starmer, two former senior Tory MPs and a former civil servant 'fan girl' who was dragged into the Horizon scandal, are among those recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.

Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) chairwoman Jessica Morden has been awarded a damehood following two decades as an MP for Newport East.

In opposition, she served as Sir Keir's parliamentary aide and is seen as a key ally of the PM often described as the 'shop steward' for Labour MPs.

Meanwhile, Sarah Munby, who was permanent secretary for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, has been awarded a companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for public service.

The 44-year-old was at the centre of a fierce row after ex-Post Office boss Henry Staunton claimed she told him to stall compensation to wrongly convicted sub postmasters in 2023.

Ms Munby, who once described herself as 'fan girl' of the civil service, swiftly and categorically denied the allegations and was backed by government figures including then Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch.

Among the other political awards this year were knighthoods for former Conservative MPs David Gauke and Greg Hands.

Sir David served as a Cabinet minister under Theresa May, including as justice secretary, but was suspended by Boris Johnson after rebelling over Brexit, subsequently losing his seat in 2019.

But it is his work on the independent sentencing review commissioned by the current Government that has seen him knighted.

Sir David's review recommended an overhaul of the justice system to avoid overcrowding prisons, including scrapping most jail sentences of under 12 months.

Also knighted is political diarist and former Labour minister Chris Mullin, 78, who was MP for Sunderland South from 1987 until 2010.

In policing, the former head of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy has received a damehood.

Dame Serena, who retired as chief constable last summer, led the force during a number of high-profile incidents in the area, including the Southport murders and subsequent riots.

The former chief constable, who is now working in consulting, said she was 'shocked' when she received a letter informing her of her damehood in the King's Birthday Honours.