DAVID Cameron hasn't much of a legacy as leader of the Conservative party other than his ability to secure the Tories a second term in government without being tied to the Liberal Democrats.
He is destined to be remembered as the prime minister who wrote his own political suicide note by agreeing to hold a referendum on Europe that was never needed.
Having gambled he lost both his office and his reputation as a skilled political operator.
Just as he was about to sink into ignominy he felt he had one more dubious act left in him - the prime minster's resignation honours.
Unlike other commentators I am easy about honours - after all, I have one. Most honours are given for recognition of public service.
To most receiving the honour is little more than a good day out for the family and when it's over the medals are boxed away and put into storage along with degrees, marriage certificates and baptismal documents.
But Cameron has totally debased the concept of honours with his abuse of the privilege accorded to him by parliament and the public.
Few would have begrudged him throwing a few parting baubles to his mates like George Osborne - after all, Cameron's decision to call a referendum against the advice of the chancellor cost the latter his job.
Or to long serving staff like his drivers or even his cook. People who have had to put up with him. Though he was taking the proverbial by including his wife's stylist for a honour.
His real abuse is not about allowing people to put a few nominal letters after their names but his decision to stick well paid political cronies into the House of Lords.
Quite frankly, Cameron lost the run of himself and in doing so gave the two fingers to the general public. By doing so David Cameron has shown himself to be little more than some latter day feudal lord.
There are many more deserving individuals who have distinguished themselves either professionally or through their charitable works more eligible for elevation to the House of Lords than the to the manor born, silver spooned, Eton mess brigade that infested Number 10.
And contrary to what some say it is important that the Lords, if not elected, is at least representative of the general population.
It certainly doesn't reflect the devolved regions proportionately but Cameron clearly had no interest in the concept of creating a more equal or more representative upper house.
Unlike some commentators I admire the House of Lords for its independence, the expertise that's found there and for the non partisan way it operates.
It is also much cheaper to run than people think and provides better value than its counterparts. Of course, there are far too many peers and its antiquated way of working is in need of major reform.
It was the House of Lords which stood up against the worst excesses of the Thatcher and Blair governments and its the Lords who have tempered most of the legislation this government tried to railroad through.
Hereditary peers have no place in a modern democracy and should be culled immediately thereby taking out 90 members. A further 200 could be taken out with compulsory retirement for those over 80 or those who are too ill. Even the Catholic Church retires its bishops at 75.
The 26 Anglican bishops should be removed too as there should be no preferred position for one particular faith over another.
If term limits were introduced the upper chamber would soon be slimmed down even more. Instead of having over 800 peers, the House of Lords could easily be reduced by half.
A proper working chamber has the time to scrutinise legislation in a way the lower chamber rarely does as they become lobby fodder for the whips.
And of course retired lords and ladies could retain their honorific titles post departure.
But it's clear that Cameron, like Thatcher before him, is trying to stack the Lords in a partisan way.
In bygone days the Tories could have counted on the aristocracy to shoot down controversial policies by Liberal or Labour governments.
Lloyd George was the first to stop that malarkey and successive Labour governments whittled away the hereditary peers' power.
For all his pretend modernity Cameron has proven himself well and truly a member of the old boys' club.
