THE Prime Minister is set to reward Brexit supporters with life peerages to mark his first year in Downing Street, The Times reports.
Boris Johnson will include former England cricketer and Brexit supporter Sir Ian Botham among 30 new peers to be announced later in July, the newspaper said.
Four ex Labour MPs who supported the Tories’ Brexit proposals are also expected to be provided seats in the Lords.
Frank Field and Gisela Stuart, two former Labour MPs, supported Leave in the 2016 referendum.
Meanwhile Ian Austin and John Woodcock, who both backed Remain in the referendum but ultimately supported Johnson’s Brexit deal and called on Labour voters not to support leader Jeremy Corbyn, are also expected to be given peerages.
Johnson is likely to also seek to heal divisions in the Conservative Party by handing out peerages to Ken Clarke, Philip Hammond and Ed Vaizey.They each had the Tory whip removed after voting to stop a No-Deal Brexit from taking place in October.
Commenting on the news, SNP MP Pete Wishart said: "A cricket player who supported Brexit is given a place in how Scotland is governed.
"He can initiate legislation and can introduce amendments on things like their ‘internal market white paper’. This is how their Union works."
Downing Street did not provide comment on the Times’ story.
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