Defeated Tory MPZac Goldsmithhas been handed a fast-track peerage and elevated to theHouse of Lords– allowing him to keep his job as environment minister.
Boris Johnsonhas ignored widespread criticism that the award would be an abuse of democracy, just days after also rewardingNicky Morgandespite her quitting the Commons at the election.
Downing Street had signalled that the gong for Mr Goldsmith – a close friend ofCarrie Symonds, the prime minister’s girlfriend – would be delayed until the New Year, to dilute the controversy.
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There had also been speculation that his complicated tax history, as a former ‘non-dom’ and son of a billionaire, would hold up the process.
But the government has now announced that the Queen is “pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for life on Zac Goldsmith”.
He will continue in the environment brief, a role he only took on last July, but will be unpaid.
Mr Goldsmith – defeated by theLiberal Democratsin Richmond Park, south-west London – held non-domiciled status , allowing him to reduce his tax bills, until he became an MP.
Educated atEton, he is the son of the billionaire businessman and financier, Sir James Goldsmith, whose Referendum Party championed the Eurosceptic cause in the s.
Despite once vowing to end “cronyism”, Mr Johnson is expected to create a sizeable number of peers, in a list that will combine a set of dissolution honors with political appointments.
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It is expected to include (Gisela Stuart
, the former Labor MP, a********************************** Vote Leavesupporter, who took to the campaign trail alongside Mr Johnson before last Thursday’s election.The prime minister is said to want to boost the anti-EU presence in the upper chamber, which repeatedly amended Brexitlegislation to the government fury in the previous parliament.
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The Electoral Reform Society had condemned the move as a mockery of democracy, when “the bloated House of Lords is already packed full of defeated and former MPs”.
“Politicians shouldn’t be rewarded with votes on our laws for life, after losing their seat,” said Darren Hughes, its chief executive.
“This issue we’ve seen across parties for years, and makes an absolute joke of constitutional accountability. Our second chamber should not be some absurd insurance policy for trounced MPs. ”
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