LIZ Truss is reportedly drawing up an honours list which could reward the people who propelled her to power - despite holding onto the top job for just six weeks.
Downing Street has said the convention was that Prime Ministers were entitled to bestow honours, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Truss could choose to ennoble those who helped her rise to the top, though no names have been discussed as yet, the paper reports.
But it could see deeply controversial figures who are close to Truss being knighted or even elevated to the House of Lords.
Kwasi Kwarteng, who served as chancellor for just 38 days and presided over the disastrous mini-budget, could be rewarded as a close friend and ally of the Prime Minister – or to make amends for his sacking.
Another person who could be in line for awards is Mark Fullbrook, the PM’s chief of staff who was interviewed by the FBI in connection with a probe into an assassination plot and who retains a 10% stake in a lobbying firm with a history of questionable clients including a Big Tobacco company and the Saudi Arabian Government.
And Jason Stein, who was briefly suspended as a Downing Street spin doctor over allegations he had briefed the press against former chancellor Sajid Javid, calling him “shit”, could be looking forward to a sweetener for his service to the PM.
Tommy Sheppard, the SNP’s constitutional affairs spokesperson, said the prospect Truss could reward her supporters despite her short and chaotic spell at the top showed “how corrupt the Westminster system is”.
And he slammed the pension the Prime Minister can draw - £115,000 per year for the rest of her life.
He said: “That a failed Prime Minister, who in just 44 days crashed the economy and caused untold chaos, can reward her supporters and pals with peerages is an absolute disgrace.
“What’s worse is the hefty payout Truss and her ministers are set to receive, a kick in the teeth for all those struggling households her government refused to support through a cost-of-living crisis of their making. They should refuse it after taking a sledgehammer to the economy.
“Westminster is completely stuck in the past and unfit for purpose, it’s imperative Scotland gets away from that sham of a place before it can cause more damage.
“The idea that Westminster is a functioning democratic parliament is laughable now, with yet another Prime Minister set to be chosen by a select few Conservative members while the last one commits to increasing the size of the already bloated unelected House of Lords.
“It’s never been more clear that Scotland is set on a different, more democratic path, one that we now need the full powers of independence to maintain.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay said the idea of "a disastrous leader, who lasted all of seven weeks and crashed the economy, ennobling people for life" is "beyond farcical".
She added: "It would underline how broken, corrupt and unfit for purpose the whole archaic system is.
"Nobody should ever be given an unelected seat as a legislator under any circumstances, let alone the donors and cronies that usually fill these shameful lists.
"Every day of chaotic Tory rule makes it even clearer that Scotland must take a different and better path. We can become a modern, democratic and independent nation in Europe, one that practices transparency and accountability, rather than staying tied to this tired and discredited Westminster system.”
