However, Mr Jack’s office declined to confirm the situation, saying: “We cannot comment on speculation about peerages. Alister Jack is absolutely committed to representing his constituents and working with the Prime Minister to continue to deliver for people in Scotland.”
News of the supposed honour for the Dumfries and Galloway MP, who lives near Lockerbie and is also Secretary of State for Scotland, broke on Monday and caused a flurry of outrage among other opposition politicians locally.
South Scotland SNP MSP Emma Harper called for a by-election to be held in his seat and said: “I agree with the First Minister that if Alister Jack wants to pop off to the archaic unelected House of Lords – of which there are now 773 sitting members – that he should stand down now, and call a by-election, so voters in Dumfries and Galloway can have a say.
“Voters deserve better than a Baron-in-waiting biding his time until he can cash in on a job for life in the Lords.
“The people of Dumfries and Galloway deserve to have their say and they deserve it now.”
Agreeing, South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth said: “At least we now know what the real reason was for Mr Jack’s cringing support for Boris Johnson because it certainly wasn’t based on merit.
“But if Mr Jack has decided to walk out on the people of Dumfries and Galloway after such a short time, then he should do the decent thing and go now.
“At a time local families are struggling, the last thing we need is a part-time MP with one eye on the exit door.”
