Former chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has said he feels “humbled” his work in government and as an MP is to be recognised with a knighthood.
The Liberal Democrat also confirmed he turned down a peerage as he does not believe the House of Lords should exist.
Mr Alexander – who was ousted as Inverness MP by the SNP’s Drew Hendry in May – is to receive the honour for political and public service.
He said last night: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s humbling to have the recognition for my work in government.
“I remain very proud of what I achieved for the Highlands as an MP and for the country in government – making the coalition a success, helping to turn the economy around.
“I have never had any aspiration to go to the House of Lords. All my political life I have believed in a democratically elected second chamber and I will continue to campaign for that.
“I just have no interest to go because I don’t believe the Lords should exist. But to be offered a knighthood is a real honour.”
Also named in the dissolution honours list, published by Downing Street yesterday, is former Gordon MP Sir Malcolm Bruce, who is to receive a peerage.
The former deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, who stood down at the end of the last parliament after more than 30 years in the House of Commons, was nominated by then party leader Nick Clegg.
“It’s an honour and enables me to maintain my connections with the political world in parliament which obviously I appreciate,” he said.
“I support reform of the Lords, but as long as we have a second revising chamber I think it’s important we play our role in that. That’s what I intend to do.
“Obviously people are saying we are over-represented in the Lords, but we are seriously underrepresented in the Commons.”
He said he believed the second chamber should be elected, but that he would work within the system as it is in the meantime.
He also insisted his decision not to contest his seat, won by former first minister Alex Salmond, had nothing to do with the prospect of a place in the Lords and was “the right thing for me personally”.
Congratulating Mr Alexander, who said he is still working out what he wants to do next, he added: “Danny is a young man, unlike me … He clearly has got half his working life ahead of him.
“I’m delighted he has that honour and I’m sure he will find things to do. There is life outside politics – I have been enjoying quite a lot of it.”