Cameron’s rewards for donors will further harm perceptions of politics

SIR – David Cameron is rewarding a number of donors to the Conservative Party in his resignation honours (report, August 5).

This is a mistake because it can create an impression of corruption – even though corruption itself has not occurred – which lingers in people’s minds. Peter Brentnall Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire

SIR – The faux outrage over Mr Cameron’s honours list seems to have focused on the peerage recommended for Michael Spencer (report, August 2).

Is it wrong for someone with strong political convictions to give money to the political party he supports? If so, should anyone ever contribute to a party?

There have been calls for more honours to be given to recognise British entrepreneurs, rather than donors. The two are not mutually exclusive, however. Icap – the company built up by Mr Spencer – is a great British success story, a large taxpayer and a business that has helped secure London’s pre-eminence as a financial centre.

There is an argument for reform. We might look to France, which makes far more awards in the lower ranks of the orders of the Legion of Honour and National Merit than we do in the Order of the British Empire. France also has specially targeted awards for other types of achievement, such as the Order of Arts and Letters. Guy Stair Sainty General Editor, ‘Burke’s World Orders of Knighthood and Merit’ London W1

SIR – Whenever former prime ministers hand out honours, I am reminded of the words of a family friend, Malcolm MacDonald, the son of Ramsay MacDonald and Britain’s roving ambassador in many of the trouble spots in the world.

He refused all honours save the Order of Merit, in the gift of the Queen. He said later: “I was averse to honours, and especially to those which carried titles. They seemed to me to make false distinctions between a few human beings and millions of equally worthy others – to establish something like a caste system in our society.” Bob Whittington Frant, East Sussex

SIR – Rather than reward his cronies and party donors, David Cameron should have ensured that former members of the Armed Forces received a National Defence Medal.

Some of these gallant former servicemen and women remain unrecognised after many years of loyal service. This is a national disgrace. Charles Lovelace Liphook, Hampshire

SIR – Perhaps honours should be updated to include the ISW (I Served Well).

This would be suitable for politicians, cronies – and even the dog. Ginny Flower Tisbury, Wiltshire