Michael Gove is among those to be awarded a peerage in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.

The veteran Conservative politician and editor of the Spectator, who retired as an MP at the last election, is understood to be on the list due to be published as soon as Friday.

Others on the list are likely to include the former Scottish secretary Alister Jack, the former chief whip Simon Hart and the former transport secretary Mark Harper – all allies of Sunak.

The list of seven or eight names is in keeping with those put forward in resignation lists by Liz Truss and Boris Johnson in recent years.

Gove, who ran for the Tory leadership in 2016, was an education secretary, environment secretary and housing secretary, but never held a great office of state.

Sunak honoured several aides and cronies when parliament was dissolved, including a peerage for his former chief of staff, Liam Booth-Smith, and a knighthood for his former deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden.

In January, Gove was reported by the Sunday Times to be in line for a peerage and the appointment was confirmed by the Financial Times on Thursday. Political sources said the full list could be announced as soon as Friday.