Rishi still hasn’t learnt his lesson when it comes to cronyism

The PM had a golden opportunity to sweep the stables clean and remove the stench left behind by Boris Johnson, writes Andrew Grice – instead, he’s ruthlessly keeping the money rolling in

Sunak, in his surprise ‘mini-honours list’, gave Mohamed Mansoud (who handed the Tories £5m last year) a knighthood (Getty/PA)

Rishi Sunak’s decision to nominate Mohamed Mansour, a donor to the Conservatives and a senior treasurer of the party, for a knighthood shines a light on cronyism.

The prime minister, accused of being “demob-happy” by Labour, slipped out a surprise mini-honours list at Easter, in a break with the tradition of publishing it at New Year and on the King’s official birthday in June.

Mansour, previously a politician in Egypt who now has British citizenship, has been honoured for his services to business, charity and political service. He handed the Tories £5m last year.