Treasury chief Tom Scholar sacked by Liz Truss ahead of disaster Budget gets top honour

Sir Tom Scholar is awarded a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Former prime minister Liz Truss (PA)

A top Treasury civil servant who was “purged” by Liz Truss ahead of her disastrous tax-cutting Budget has been given a top honour.

Sir Tom Scholar was sacked as permanent secretary at the Treasury within days of Ms Truss becoming prime minister as part of her crusade against “Treasury orthodoxy” – freeing her up to enact the ill-fated policies.

The move prompted criticism and questions about the government’s economic competence ahead of her budget – which ultimately sent borrowing costs spiralling, tanked the value of sterling, and signalled the end of Ms Truss’s premiership.