The disgraceful matter of Boris Johnson’s honours

Readers respond to the row surrounding the former prime minister’s nominations for peerages

Surely this must be the last gasp of the honours list when Boris Johnson decided that his hairdresser needed a rather larger than normal tip in the shape of a gong (Sunak approves Boris Johnson honours list including aides linked to Partygate, 9 June). Then, in the interests of equality, what about the dustmen who emptied all those bottles consumed at the parties in No 10? One hundred and sixty years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The louder he talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons.” So I hope the binmen at No 10 will be suitably and equally treated – perhaps a modified Order of the Spoons instead of the Bath?
Robin Townsend
Canterbury, Kent

The testy exchanges between the current prime minister and his predecessor over resignation honours (Boris Johnson circus derails Sunak’s tactics for Tory revival, 12 June) could be avoided if we all agreed that such resignation honours could only be granted after a change of government through a general election. We can’t keep increasing the size of the House of Lords on the whims of failed leaders.
Paul Collins
Sale, Cheshire

Re Zoe Williams’ article (I have met Boris Johnson twice. The ugliness was always obvious beneath the bonhomie, 12 June), back in the late 1990s, my wife and I were at a Christmas dinner and someone asked: “Who is the most dangerous man in England?” I nominated the egotistical liar, and have taken no satisfaction in being proved right. I hope we get a few years without him, but I am not betting on it.
Mick Kelly
Meols, Merseyside

“Johnson has spent large amounts of time abroad, earning money through speeches and going on holiday” (Boris Johnson formally steps down as MP, 12 June). I can understand speeches earning him money, but going on holiday?
Michael Robinson
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

It is time to update the Guardian’s style guide. The title of anyone receiving one of Boris Johnson’s honours should appear in quote marks: “Sir” Jacob Rees-Mogg, “Dame” Priti Patel etc.
Willy McCourt
London

Given the usual state of his hair, I am starting to question the value of my MBE, given for services to the NHS, after hearing that Boris Johnson decided to honour his hairdresser.
Pete Marsh
West Kirby, Merseyside

Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list and continuing dishonesty, together with the scandal of the water companies being allowed to reward their shareholders while polluting and charging the rest of us, means that Westminster is reliving the great stink of 1858. This time though, it’s largely a moral stink. Joseph Bazalgette’s sewer system was the solution then; what’s needed now is a bold Labour government.
Roger Paxton
Morpeth, Northumberland

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