The New Year Honours list has got its priorities wrong again for 2024

Sir – As I predicted, successful actors, musicians, sports stars and political party supporters have predominated among the upper echelons of the King’s New Year Honours. Elsewhere, less well-known members of the public, who have worked selflessly with no thought for their own benefit, will be restricted to lesser awards. Charles Smith-jones

Sir – When Abi Tierney, the former director-general of HM Passport Office, is made a Companion of the Order of the Bath after the passport fiasco of 2022 (report, December 30), it simply confirms that the honours system is both debased and discredited. Awards should be granted only for conspicuous achievement.

The same goes for Liz Truss’s resignation honours list. After 49 days of economic and financial chaos, she should have been barred from awarding any honours.

It is time that the Government got to grips with a thoroughly rotten system and made it only for demonstrable achievement in the national interest. Kim Potter

Lambourn, Berkshire

Sir – Liz Truss was prime minister for only 49 days, yet she nominated 14 people for honours (though only 11 were actually approved).

The fact that she was allowed to nominate anyone can only be described as absolutely disgusting. Andrew Horrocks

Bury, Lancashire

Sir – It would be sensible and generally acceptable if Prime Minister’s Honours were granted only after the PM has been in office for at least a year. David Riches London SE19

Sir – Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, may well have done a good job at the coronation of King Charles, but he has utterly failed in his main role as leader of the Christian faith in this country. A few pockets of support still exist, but the churches are empty. He has let himself become self-important and focused on politics at the expense of his day job. The honours system is off the rails and needs a rethink.

Mick Ferrie

Mawnan Smith, Cornwall

Sir – Kevin Sinfield has been awarded a CBE for his tireless efforts to raise money for and awareness of motor neurone disease. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been knighted for doing his day job, in the warm. Surely something wrong with the priorities. Nairn Lawson

Portbury, Somerset

Sir – My wife and I stayed at home throughout lockdown. I thought we would have been prime candidates for the New Year Honours list. George R Lawn Bridgham, Norfolk