KEIR STARMER APPOINTS SADIQ KHAN TO HOUSE OF LORDS

Keir Starmer has appointed Sadiq Khan to a peerage in the House of Lords days before stepping down as Prime Minister. The London mayor has declined any ministerial role in the incoming government led by Andy Burnham. Sources close to Khan indicated he intends to focus on the final two years of his current mayoral term.

Khan served as a London MP for a decade before his election as mayor in 2016, and has won three consecutive mayoral elections. He is the first Muslim mayor of a major western capital. During his tenure, Khan has led London through the Covid pandemic, terrorist attacks and climate policy challenges, whilst also facing public criticism from US President Donald Trump. He received a knighthood last year.

Starmer had reportedly sought to appoint Khan to the Lords following May's local elections as part of efforts to strengthen Labour's position among progressive voters. Khan has not yet stated whether he will seek a fourth mayoral term in 2028, a decision he has typically announced late in the electoral cycle in previous contests. Khan is not the first regional mayor to hold a position in the House of Lords alongside their local role.