A FORMER Tory MP who was deselected after a long-running feud with her constituency association and ex-Foreign Secretary William Hague have been handed peerages by David Cameron.

Some leading Conservatives in North Yorkshire said while former Richmond MP Mr Hague's elevation to the House of Lords was "more than fitting", ex-Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh's move to the Upper House was the result of a "grubby pre-election deal".

The Prime Minister had already been facing accusations of cronyism after unveiling dozens of new Tory peers in the dissolution honours list, in an apparent drive to boost his party's representation in the Lords, to make it easier to get legislation approved.

The Northern Echo: William Hague

William Hague has been made a peer

Former ministers David Willetts, Sir George Young, Andrew Lansley and Greg Barker will be joined in the House of Lords by Tory grandee Douglas Hogg, who claimed £2,200 on expenses to clean his moat.

The announcement of 45 new peers further expanded the second most populous legislative chamber in the world to 826 members and sparked fresh questions about the credibility and expense of the chamber.

Conservative councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said Mr Hague's peerage was a well-deserved award following many years service to his constituency and the country.

He added: "I hope that this might mean he still has a role in frontline politics in the House of Lords."

Senior North Yorkshire Tories, who declined to be named, said honouring Miss McIntosh "beggars belief as she is a failed MP".

They said they understood Miss McIntosh had been offered the peerage in return for not standing against Conservative candidate Kevin Hollinrake, as she may have split the party's vote.

Miss McIntosh, who has been working as an agricultural consultant since the election, dismissed the claim, saying she had recently been asked if she wanted to be considered for a peerage, but had not taken it being conferred for granted due to the number of processes that had to be passed.

She said she had been thrilled to learn she would be able to resume her parliamentary career after 18 years as an MP and that it was a vindication of her work and support.

Miss McIntosh said: "There attaches great responsibilities as a Conservative peer, which I shall seek to discharge to the best of my ability."