Sadiq Khan among 26 new peers to enter the Lords

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is among 26 individuals newly granted seats in the House of Lords, marking one of the final actions taken by Sir Keir Starmer before he steps down as prime minister. Sir Sadiq, a Labour figure, was nominated alongside 15 other Labour members, including broadcaster June Sarpong and former union leader Christina McAnea.

In addition to the Labour appointments, the government announced new peers from other parties: five from the Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives, and two cross-bench members, Sir Chris Wormald, a former cabinet secretary, and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson. Downing Street confirmed the King’s intention to confer these peerages, underscoring the formal approval for the nominations. This list of new peers was prepared before Sir Keir Starmer’s recent resignation announcement, and it serves as a political peerage rather than the traditional resignation honours.

Sir Sadiq Khan, who is halfway through his third term as mayor since his initial election in 2016, has not committed to a ministerial position in the forthcoming government led by Andy Burnham nor indicated whether he will pursue a fourth term in 2028. A government source commended him as “a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better,” citing his accomplishments such as reducing violent crime, improving air quality, delivering the Elizabeth Line, and revitalizing council housing development. The mayor’s office expressed Sir Sadiq’s honor at receiving the peerage and emphasized his dedication to advancing a fairer, safer, and greener London.

The announcement sparked varied reactions from political figures. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized the nominations as an example of “the uniparty writ large,” lamenting that his party received no representation and calling the appointment list “even more unrepresentative.” Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the accession of five new peers from his party, highlighting their expertise and commitment to holding the government accountable and reforming the House of Lords. The Conservative nominees include former army head General Sir Patrick Sanders, Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross, and Swaran Singh, a professor of psychiatry. The debate around reforming the House of Lords continues, with calls from incoming prime minister Andy Burnham and others for sweeping changes to the unelected chamber

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More