Boris Johnson is plotting to put more Brexiteers and allies in the House of Lords to stamp his authority on Parliament, it is reported today.
A new batch of names are tipped to enter the second chamber just hours after Nicky Morgan was given a peerage to continue as Culture Secretary - despite quitting as an MP.
She will sit as Secretary of State in the unelected chamber barely a year after claiming "I would not serve in a Boris Johnson cabinet" in September 2018.
Fresh reports now claim environment minister Zac Goldsmith, a close friend of the PM's girlfriend Carrie Symonds, will be given a peerage for life despite losing his seat to the Lib Dems by 7,766 votes on Friday.
The Daily Telegraph reports there could also be peerages for Shanker Singham, a director at the right-wing IEA think tank who has had a string of meetings with ministers and is dubbed the 'Brexiteers' brain'; Brexit-backer Martin Howe QC, who helped the Tories' previous bid to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights; and Tory donor and businessman Johnny Leavesley.
Despite the men's obvious links to the Tory government, a Cabinet minister claimed giving them peerages would avoid "crony appointments".
How does it work, has it happened before - and is it allowed? Scroll down for our explainer.
A Tory source added to the Telegraph: "They are looking to promote people of real talent".
But new Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney - who booted Zac Goldsmith out of Richmond Park - said: "If these reports are true, then along with the appointment of Nicky Morgan, we are seeing Boris Johnson making a mockery of his so called 'People's government'.
"It is day one of Parliament returning and already Boris Johnson is rewarding his cronies with peerages and
The Electoral Reform Society also blasted reports that Mr Goldsmith could be handed a peerage to keep a government job.
Chief executive Darren Hughes said: "Politicians shouldn’t be rewarded with votes on our laws for life, after losing their seat.
"This issue we’ve seen across parties for years, and makes an absolute joke of democratic accountability. Our second chamber should not be some absurd insurance policy for trounced MPs."
Responding to the reports today he added: “This is yet another sign governments and peers take the second chamber for a ride.
“If you vote on our laws, you should be chosen by those affected by those laws. It’s time for an overhaul.”
Downing Street announced last night that Tory Nicky Morgan would keep her Cabinet job as Culture Secretary despite quitting as an MP.
Ms Morgan was rewarded with a peerage after
Labour MP Chris Bryant, a former shadow Culture secretary, tweeted: "It stinks.
"You abandon your constituents, eschew the tough work of representing a constituency but remain in the Cabinet. That really is two fingers up to democracy."
Mr Johnson is expected to carry out a wider shake-up of his top team in February, and reports suggest Ms Morgan will only stay in the Cabinet until that reshuffle.
But unless she chooses to give it up, her peerage will be for life - allowing her to claim £305 for each day she turns up.
Lording it over us - Boris Johnson's Cabinet job for a peer explained
Is this allowed?
Yes - although it has not happened for a decade and is considered highly unusual.
New Labour grandee Peter Mandelson was the last to do so when he took on the newly-formed department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2009.
It came after Gordon Brown combined the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills with the department for business in an earlier iteration of BEIS.
How does it work?
MPs would not be able to question Nicky Morgan during departmental questions - instead they would be fielded by a junior minister in the department.
But she would face questions in the House of Lords.
This already happens with other more junior ministers based in the Lords such as Baroness Williams of Trafford who is Minister for Equalities.
But the difference is having the Secretary of State as a peer rather than an MP.
Can they sit in the Commons?
No. Peers are only allowed to sit in the House of Lords as they are unelected.
Do they get votes?
Peers can only vote in the House of Lords.
However, all bills have to be considered by both Houses of Parliament before they can become law.
So in theory, yes, Nicky Morgan will get a vote on legislation.
But in practice the House of Commons has more power because it can overrule the Lords if its considered that the unelected peers are trying to thwart the will of the elected House.
While the Lords can delay bills, they cannot actually veto them.
Why do it?
The government is understood to be planning to break up the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of an overhaul of Whitehall, with responsibility for broadband becoming part of a stronger business and trade ministry.
Nicky Morgan, who stood down at the election citing concerns about the pressure on her family, is expected to continue in the post until February - when Boris Johnson is set to overhaul the cabinet after his limited reshuffle this week.
But the PM is keen to reward the former Culture Secretary's loyalty during the election campaign - including providing a staunch defence of the much-disputed promise for 50,000 new nurses.
Mr Johnson is also keen to avoid losing one of the faces of One Nation conservatism after his divisive move to kick out many of her former allies in the party during the last parliamentary session.
