THE Meon Valley MP has received a knighthood.

George Hollingbery, the former trade minister who served as Theresa May's parliamentary private secretary in both Downing Street and the Home Office, was recognised in the ex-prime minister's resignation honours list.

The Tory, who lives in Alresford, was one of three MPs to receive a knighthood, alongside David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury, and Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne.

Mr Hollingbery said: "I am deeply honoured and humbled to be accorded this honour by Her Majesty.

"I suspect many people who receive such awards believe they have been just doing their job and I feel precisely that today.

"It is honour enough to be elected by my constituents in the Meon Valley and play my part in public life.

He added: "I feel enormously lucky to just have had that opportunity and I thank my colleagues both in the constituency and in Westminster for all the help they have given me over the years."

But not everyone was happy to hear the news, including Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Lewis North.

Mr North, who grew up in Cheriton, stood in the Upper Meon Valley by-election last September, slashing the Tory majority from 882 to 124.

He said: "George Hollingbery MP supported a destructive no-deal Brexit in the House of Commons last week.

"As his constituent I find it utterly insulting that he’s being rewarded for an act which is so clearly against our national interest.

"Or was it all his efforts in securing a trade deal with the Faroe Islands that got him the knighthood?"