Boris Johnson was at the centre of another cronyism row today after a Tory peer who led his leadership election campaign was appointed to lead England's independent higher education regulator.
Lord Wharton of Yarm was appointed as chairman of the Office for Students (OfS) on a £60,000 salary for a two-day week by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.
The former MP for Stockton South, 36, ran Mr Johnson's leadership campaign in 2019, working alongside Mr Williamson to install him in Downing Street in place of Theresa May.
Labour today demanded an investigation into the appointment after Lord Wharton suggested he could retain his party's whip in the House of Lords if confirmed in the supposedly impartial post.