Nod for EU veteran who battled Brexit

Jonathan Faull, who retired as director general of the European Commission in January, is to receive a KCMG honour for “services to UK relations with the EU”.

Mr Faull stepped down after 38 years, after what has been described as a “high-profile but unsuccessful attempt to keep his country in the EU”.

Theresa May stepped away from any involvement in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list to avoid accusations of a conflict of interest during the general election campaign, The Daily

Telegraph understands.

It means today’s list is likely to be viewed as one of the least political of recent years. The Prime Minister had signalled she wanted to overhaul the system after a series of scandals.