British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday gave his brother Jo a former junior minister who quit over his elder siblings approach to leaving the European Union a top honour with a seat in the upper House of Lords.

Former premier Theresa Mays husband Philip will also receive a knighthood for political service, the government said, as it unveiled a list of 36 nominations.

The former House of Commons speaker John Bercow, who repeatedly tried to foil the governments Brexit plans, however, was denied a seat in the upper house.

He is the first former speaker in over two centuries not to receive the honour.

Other notable new lords include the Russian-born British newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev and the Brexit-supporting cricketer Ian Botham.

But the nominations drew scorn from Johnsons political foes.

He has displayed the worst kind of cronyism by giving jobs for life to friends and those who have done him favours, opposition Scottish National Party lawmaker Pete Wishart said.

Brexit supporters accused Bercow of creating voting obstacles in the year it took bickering lawmakers to finally ratify Britains divorce deal with the EU.

A 2018 report also accused Bercow of presiding over a culture in which bullying, harassment and sexual harassment have been able to thrive in parliament. He denied the allegations.

But he also enjoyed his fair share of successes.

His bellows of Order! Order! during the Brexit saga went viral and made him briefly into an international media star.

Bercow published a candid autobiography and joined the lucrative lecture circuit after stepping down in October.

The House of Lords will now comprise more than 800 members because peers are allowed to resign or retire but are otherwise expected to serve for life.

This list of new peers marks a lost opportunity to reduce numbers in the House of Lords, House of Lords speaker Peter Fowler said.

Fowlers office had recommended cutting the chamber down to 600 members tops.

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British PM Boris Johnson hands brother top honour - Macau Business