Boris Johnson’s toxic resignation honours list should be the last

Recipients of Johnson’s baubles might feel obliged to support a comeback bid, says Andrew Grice

Rishi Sunak may have done his former boss a favour (Getty/The Independent)

Although Boris Johnson’s long-awaited resignation list is less toxic than his original proposal of about 100 names, it is still controversial. The number was cut to 38; officially this happened during the Cabinet Office vetting process, but Downing Street’s influence was surely felt, even though it denied any input.

Out went Johnson’s father Stanley, to whom Boris wanted to give a knighthood. Rishi Sunak rightly judged that a step too far, as did the 308,000 people who signed The Independent’s petition opposing the idea.

Also missing was Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of Daily Mail publisher DMG Media, after doubts were expressed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, which vets nominations for peerages.