Boris Johnson is threatening to set an “early test” for his successor by ensuring they will face two snap by-elections as the new Tory leader, the Observer said.
The Prime Minister plans to nominate at least two sitting MPs to the House of Lords well before the next election, sparking two contests that will test public support for whoever replaces him in Downing Street.
It is understood he wants to hand the Persians to Nigel Adams, a cabinet minister and one of his closest allies, and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, who has emerged as one of his most loyal cabinet colleagues. Both have large majorities, but the combination of the recent decline in the Tory vote and the disastrous result of the recent election could make the races very close.
There are currently two championship lists planned – one is a regular list and the second is Johnson’s Retirement Honors List. “You can’t announce a championship and say it won’t be involved for two years [after the next general election],” said a source familiar with Johnson’s plans. “Elevating MPs will mean that these seats will be freed up to be contested. This will be a very early test for the new leader.
Adams, who supported Johnson long before he became Tory leader, has already announced he is standing down at the next election. As a cabinet minister without portfolio, he was at the heart of efforts to save Johnson’s crumbling premiership earlier this month.
He has held the seat of Selby and Ainstee three times, each time with an increased majority. He won the seat by more than 20,000 votes in the last election. Labor is a contender and a by-election could see Keir Starmer’s party close the gap. Dorries held the seat of Mid Bedfordshire by a majority of 24,000 at the last election.
It comes with persistent rumors that Johnson is planning a big feather list, which is expected to include former Daily Mail editor Paul Daker. Johnson was determined to make Dacre chairman of broadcasting regulator Ofcom, but the appointment was opposed by an independent selection committee. Dacre subsequently withdrew from the process. Some new championships are expected to be announced this summer, but they are first being vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Committee.
Johnson has previously provoked criticism over his peer appointments, having already nominated Lord Moore of Etchingham, his former editor at the Daily Telegraph, and Yevgeny Lebedev, the Russian-born businessman and son of a former KGB officer.
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