Johnson’s plan to give peerages to two MPs could leave successor facing two early byelections

Boris Johnson is threatening to set an “early test” for his successor by ensuring they have to face two early byelections as the new Tory leader, the Observer has been told.

The prime minister is planning to elevate at least two current MPs to the House of Lords well before the next election, triggering two contests that will test public support for whoever replaces him in Downing Street.

It is understood that he wants to hand peerages to Nigel Adams, a cabinet office minister and one of…