The monarch confers honours mostly on the advice of the Cabinet Office and the prime minister. Ashcroft's declaration last week that he was a "non-dom" has been seen to contradict "clear and unequivocal" assurances given to the then Tory leader, William Hague, that he would take up permanent residence in the UK before the end of 2000. This assurance was seen as crucial. Members of Blair's inner circle suggest the former prime minister now feels he has been misled.

The Queen is really irrelevant in this issue. Tony Blair really should have had a categorical statement from Ashcroft before he allowed Ashcroft's name to be put forward. Hague is looking like an idiot as well. The simplest solution is to strip Ashcroft of his peerage.