London Mayor Sadiq Khan is among 26 individuals nominated for life peerages in a new political honours list announced Thursday. The move, part of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s final appointments, allows Khan to join the House of Lords while maintaining his elected mayoral office.
Sadiq Khan’s Elevation to the House of Lords
The appointment of Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords marks a significant political development just days before Sir Keir Starmer departs from Downing Street. While the London mayor has previously served as a Member of Parliament for Tooting, his elevation to the upper chamber allows him to hold a peerage while continuing his duties at City Hall.
Government sources described the peerage as a recognition of his tenure as mayor, citing achievements such as the delivery of the Elizabeth Line and efforts to get London building council homes again. Despite the move, Khan’s spokesperson confirmed that the mayor is not seeking a ministerial role in the incoming administration.
“London gave Sadiq the opportunities to go from a council estate to being mayor of London, and his focus will continue to be ensuring that all Londoners get the same shot at reaching their full potential that London gave him and his family.”
Khan, who was first elected mayor in 2016 and is currently in his third term, has not yet declared whether he intends to stand for a fourth term in 2028.
Cross-Party Appointments and Reform Criticism
The list of 26 new peers includes nominations from the Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties, as well as crossbench appointments. Among the notable figures joining the Lords are former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, who will sit as crossbenchers. The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, secured five nominations, including economist Tim Leunig and campaigns director Dave McCobb.
The appointments have drawn sharp criticism from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who characterized the selections as the uniparty writ large
and lamented the absence of Reform UK representation in the upper house.
This criticism arrives against the backdrop of Starmer’s own past statements. In 2023, the Prime Minister had pledged not to issue a traditional resignation honours list, explicitly criticizing his predecessors for the practice.
Notable Figures and Conservative Nominations
Conservative spokespeople highlighted that the new peers bring immense experience from the worlds of business, defence and healthcare
to the Lords.
- Christina McAnea: Former general secretary of the Unison union (Labour).
- June Sarpong: Broadcaster and charity campaigner (Labour).
- Ken Macintosh: Former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament (Labour).
- General Sir Patrick Sanders: Former chief of the general staff, British Army (Conservative).
- Kitty Ussher: Economist and former MP for Burnley (Labour).
Future of the Upper Chamber
The political context of these peerages is colored by the transition of power to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Reports suggest that Burnham may seek to integrate metropolitan mayors into a restructured second chamber, potentially moving toward a senate of regions and nations.
While the Labour Party previously committed to abolishing the House of Lords in 2022, the policy has been subject to revision, shifting toward a model that seeks to replace hereditary peerages—92 of which were axed earlier this year—with a more representative body. Whether the current appointments represent a final expansion of the chamber or a precursor to further structural change remains a point of contention for political observers and reform advocates alike.
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