Boris Johnson’s plans for a major peerage list have come under fire, with the Lord Speaker saying it could erode “public confidence in our parliamentary system”.
The House of Lords Nominations Committee (Holac), the peerage vetting body, is keeping the prime minister’s plans to leave, Whitehall sources told the Sunday Times, which also reported that such moves could be restricted in the future.
Lord Speaker John McFall is speaking with Philip Norton, a Conservative peer, about his private member’s bill which would give statutory powers to Holac.
It would prevent future prime ministers from recommending their peers to the Crown before the commission’s verdict on their suitability and would also require them to explain to the commission why candidates meet the criteria for appointment.
Lord McFall has also written to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the two final contenders to become prime minister, urging them not to follow Johnson’s modus operandi which has led to accusations of cronyism.
Johnson, who will create more peers in a resignation honor roll in the autumn, has already appointed 86 peers, bringing the number of sitting members in the Lords to more than 800.
In his letter, McFall said: “An overly large House of Lords, combined with the fact that some newly appointed members have not been particularly active, undermines public confidence in our parliamentary system. I am sure you will agree that Public confidence in politics and in our parliament and constitution is crucial.”
Johnson’s peerage list is expected to include former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre. The outgoing Prime Minister tried to make Dacre the chair of broadcasting regulator Ofcom, but an independent selection panel objected to the appointment and Dacre subsequently withdrew from the process.
Jo Johnson takes his seat in the House of Lords. His ennoblement prompted criticism of his brother Boris for nepotism Picture: House of Lords/PA
Johnson has previously drawn criticism for his gentry appointments, appointing Charles Moore his former editor at the Daily Telegraph, Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian-born businessman and son of a former KGB officer, and Jo Johnson, the his brother
A government spokesman said: “Given retirements and departures, new members of the Lords continue to be needed. It is entirely right for a Prime Minister and opposition parties to put forward names for a political peerage list.”
Last weekend, the Observer reported that Johnson plans to elevate at least two sitting MPs to the House of Lords well before the next election, which would trigger two by-elections that will test public support for whoever replaces him in Downing Street on 5 September.
It is understood he wants to bestow peerages on Nigel Adams, a Cabinet Office minister and one of his closest allies, and the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, one of his most loyal cabinet colleagues.
The 2020 analysis found that almost a quarter of the nobles awarded that year were to Conservative party donors, close colleagues or former colleagues of Johnson, including businessman Peter Cruddas, who was ennobled in defiance of advice of the House of Lords.