Britain16 July, 20262 min read
Keir Starmer Hands Sadiq Khan Peerage as 26 New House of Lords Members Named
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London mayor Sadiq Khan named a life peer. Twenty-six new peers named to the Lords by Starmer as he leaves office.
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Peerage for London Mayor
Sir Sadiq Khan has been handed a peerage by outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer as part of a list of 26 new members of the House of Lords issued by Downing Street before Starmer leaves office. The London mayor will take his seat on the red benches alongside former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and Sir Brian Leveson, a retired senior judge, after No 10 said the King has been “graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages”.
A government source praised Khan as “a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better,” citing that he “delivered the Elizabeth Line” and “got London building council homes again.” Khan’s office said he was “honoured to be given a peerage” and that “Serving as mayor of the greatest city in the world continues to be the privilege of Sadiq’s life.”
Row, backing, and Lords
The peerage immediately sparked political pushback, with Reform UK mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham posting on X that “Sadiq Khan wanted the House of Lords abolished. Now he’ll happily take a seat there as Lord Khan.”
Labour MP for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan backed Khan, saying: “From growing up on the Henry Prince Estate to leading our capital city and now a member of the Lords - he's a dedicated public servant.”
The Independent said the peerage potentially opens the door for Khan to join Andy Burnham’s new cabinet because members of the House of Lords are able to become ministers, but it was understood he would stay on as mayor and was “not seeking a ministerial role.”
The BBC reported that joining the Lords would allow Khan to become a government minister but that it “understands he is not seeking a role in Andy Burnham's incoming government,” while also saying Khan had not yet decided whether he wants to seek a fourth term as mayor in 2028.
What happens next
The peerage comes as Downing Street published political peerages that included Labour nominations such as broadcaster June Sarpong and former union chief Christina McAnea, alongside Liberal Democrat nominations and Conservative nominations, with the King’s intention to confer peerages noted in the list. The BBC said the nominations come as Sir Keir prepares to leave office on Monday, when Burnham is due to become the next prime minister, and it described the list as “political peerages” rather than resignation honours prime ministers usually grant on their departure from office.
“Reform UK was not given any peerages to distribute, with the party leader, Nigel Farage, accusing the House of Lords of being ‘the uniparty writ large’.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the appointments of being “the uniparty writ large,” while the Electoral Reform Society campaign said Labour’s supporters would be baffled by the latest appointments to the Lords given its plans to reform the chamber. Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “The next prime minister needs to make good on the promise of reform and turn the Lords into a smaller, democratic chamber that is more representative of and accountable to the people of this country,” as Burnham called for a complete overhaul of the unelected Lords.