David Cameron's resignation honours list has provoked a lot of flak on two different, although related, matters. First there is that of whether he has abused and devalued the honours system, which is a non-financial way of recognising outstanding public service: whether to a good cause or to the nation. That might be at all levels from that of the school crossing "lollipop" man to the upper ranks of the civil or military services

Secondly, there is that of the sheer numbers and the suitability of some candidates for life peerages and thereby membership of the House of Lords.

There is good reason for a defeated or retiring prime minister to be able to express his thanks in public to some of those who served his administration. Sadly, Mr Cameron has not only gone over the top in numbers.