David Cameron is poised to give peerages to a string of Conservative advisers as early as this week.
Philippa Stroud, a former aide to Iain Duncan Smith; Simone Finn, an adviser to Francis Maude on Whitehall efficiency; and the Prime Minister’s longstanding gatekeeper Kate Fall are all tipped to be given seats in the House of Lords in the long-awaited dissolution honours list.
The appointments will fuel criticism that Mr Cameron is packing the upper house with Tory cronies after figures revealed that he has handed out peerages at a faster rate than any other prime minister.
Read more: Part of Thames could be closed during repairs
Where could house MPs when the builders come in
Move out of Parliament or 'repairs will cost taxpayers £7bn'
Parliament will have to be abandoned without £3bn renovation
Mr Cameron, whose party does not hold a majority in the Lords, is expected to announce more than 50 new peers this week, with about 40 of them Conservatives.
