Khan's Lords Appointment
Keir Starmer Names Sadiq Khan Peer, Sparking Debate on Lords Reform and Pledges
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Key Points
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Khan received a knighthood last year, adding to his already high level of recognition before entering the Lords.
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Khan has told the prime minister-in-waiting that he does not wish to take a ministerial role under incoming PM Andy Burnham and will instead focus on the final years of his mayoral term.
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The peerage is discussed in the context of broader Lords reform debates, including Burnham’s proposal for a 'senate of regions and nations' that would include metro mayors. This signals ongoing consideration of regional governance at the national level.
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Coverage frames the honours move as part of Keir Starmer’s final acts as PM, with reports noting it breaks a pledge not to hand out honours after leaving Downing Street.
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There is a precedent for regional mayors serving as peers while remaining in office, as Ben Houchen (Tees Valley) did when he was made a peer in 2023, suggesting Khan’s situation would not be unique.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has named London Mayor Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords in his resignation honours list, according to ITV News and Yahoo News. Khan, who already received a knighthood last year, will become a peer while continuing to serve as mayor — a role he has held since 2016.
The list includes 26 new peers in total, 15 of them Labour figures, according to The Sun. Khan told Starmer's successor, incoming PM Andy Burnham, that he does not want a ministerial post and plans to focus on finishing his mayoral term instead.
Khan Joins Lords While Staying On as Mayor
Khan's elevation means he will hold two high-profile roles at once. He will sit in the House of Lords while remaining London's mayor. This is not without precedent — Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen was made a peer in 2023 while still in office, so Khan's situation would not be unique.
Yahoo News Australia reported that Khan has been hailed as a "brilliant mayor who has transformed" London. Supporters point to improvements in air quality, crime reduction, and major city projects during his tenure. He is not expected to seek a national role under the new Burnham government.
Critics Call It a Broken Pledge on Honours
The resignation honours list has drawn sharp criticism. Starmer had previously pledged not to hand out honours after leaving Downing Street. Critics say naming 26 new peers — including 15 Labour allies — breaks that promise directly.
The Sun labelled the move a "reward" for political loyalty. The optics are complicated by the sheer size of the list. Handing peerages to party figures on the way out the door is a tradition many in Westminster had hoped Starmer would break.
Lords Reform Debate Looms Over the Appointment
Khan's peerage lands in the middle of a live debate about reforming the House of Lords itself. Incoming PM Andy Burnham has proposed replacing it with a "senate of regions and nations." That new chamber would include metro mayors — meaning Khan could end up in it regardless of this appointment.
The timing raises questions about the value of a peerage if the Lords is abolished or radically changed. Burnham's plan signals that regional leaders like Khan will play a bigger role in national politics. But the exact shape of that reform remains unclear.
What Comes Next for Khan and London
Khan is now one of the most decorated figures in British local politics — a knight and a peer, still running a city of nearly 9 million people. His focus, he has made clear, is London. He does not plan to move to Westminster politics under Burnham.
Whether his peerage gives him more leverage over national policy on housing, transport, or devolution remains to be seen. For now, ITV News reports he will take his Lords seat while serving out the final years of his mayoral term, keeping one foot in each world.
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