LORD Fowler, the Lord Speaker, has told Boris Johnson to stop making a "mass" of new peers after choosing to boost the House of Lords' numbers by 36.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Fowler said: "I do think the Prime Minister has got to stop these kinds of mass appointments because I think the public are unimpressed with it, I think most of us in the House of Lords are unimpressed with it and it is not necessary - we don't need a House of Lords of 830.

"I mean, it is ridiculous because it is far too many for the duties... we have very important duties to carry out in terms of the governance of this country but we don't need 830 people to do it - that's the plain fact and everyone knows that is a fact.

READ MORE: 'Worst kind of cronyism': Boris Johnson's new peer list slammed

"What you are doing is encouraging some in the House of Lords who are quite frankly passengers and don't make much effort in any event."

According to reports, 88 peers - one in nine - have not spoken, held a Government post or participated in a committee, while 46 have never even voted.

Fowler welcomed the peerage given to former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke, however, saying: "The one person I'm delighted who is coming into the House of Lords is Ken Clarke... there is a public servant who has done immense good for this country and is being recognised and actually, if you want someone who will go on taking an active part in politics and in the House of Lords, I think Ken Clarke is the ideal example."

Ruth Davidson, Johnson’s brother, and a newspaper owner were all given cushy jobs for life in the House of Lords yesterday.

The Prime Minister also rewarded the former England cricketer Sir Ian Botham and billionaire Tory donor Michael Spencer.

Theresa May’s husband, Philip, will receive a knighthood for “political services”.

The SNP’s Pete Wishart described it as the “worst kind of cronyism”.