Zac Goldsmith made life peer and kept on as Environment Minister

Conservative former MP Zac Goldsmith has been made a life peer and is to stay on as Environment Minister, Downing Street has announced.

It comes as Boris Johnson shapes his team following his landslide election victory and days after Nicky Morgan was also made a life peer, with her then retaining her role as Culture Secretary.

In a statement, Downing Street said: "The Rt Hon Zac Goldsmith has been confirmed as a Minister of State (unpaid) at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for International Development.

"The Queen has been pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Zac Goldsmith."

Mr Goldsmith lost his Richmond Park seat to the Liberal Democrats' Sarah Olney last week.

Commenting on the cabinet update, Ms Olney said: "Along with the appointment of Nicky Morgan, we are seeing Boris Johnson now making a mockery of his so called 'people's government'.

"It is the first days of Parliament returning and already Boris Johnson is rewarding his cronies with peerages."

Staunchly pro-Brexit Mr Goldsmith was an awkward fit in Richmond Park constituency, which voted 72 per cent Remain in the EU referendum.

At the December 2019 election, Ms Olney polled 34,559 votes compared to Mr Goldsmith's 26,793 on a turnout of 79 per cent of the electorate.

The PM is set to make a bigger reshuffle next year, with reports suggesting a third of his Cabinet could go.

Earlier this week he welcomed new MPs to Westminster, following his party's landslide election win.