London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been named as one of 26 new peers who will take seats in the House of Lords, in one of Sir Keir Starmer's final acts before leaving office as prime minister.

Sir Sadiq is among 16 Labour nominees, alongside broadcaster June Sarpong and former Trades Union Congress general secretary Christina McAnea. The appointments also include five Liberal Democrat peers, three Conservatives and two cross-bench members.

Although membership of the House of Lords could make Sir Sadiq eligible to serve as a government minister, the BBC understands he is not seeking a post in Andy Burnham's incoming administration.

Cross-party appointments announced

Downing Street released the list of nominations, saying the King had "been graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages" on those selected.

The appointments come just days before Sir Keir is due to leave office on Monday, when Andy Burnham is expected to become the UK's next prime minister.

The BBC understands the nominations were prepared before Sir Keir announced his resignation as Labour leader last month. Rather than being a traditional resignation honours list, they are political peerages agreed across the parties.

Among the two cross-bench appointments are former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson.

Khan to remain focused on London

Sir Sadiq, who was first elected London mayor in 2016, is serving his third term in office. The BBC has been told he has not yet decided whether he will seek re-election for a fourth term in 2028.

A government source described him as "a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better", citing reductions in violent crime, cleaner air, the delivery of the Elizabeth Line and increased council house building as reasons the peerage was deserved.

A spokesperson for the mayor said Sir Sadiq was "honoured" by the appointment and remained committed to serving the capital.

"He is excited about what more can be delivered in the years ahead and he will devote his time and energy to standing up for our city and building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone," the spokesperson said.

Reform debate continues

Reform UK did not receive any peerages in the latest appointments. Party leader Nigel Farage criticised the list, calling it "the uniparty writ large" and arguing it left the upper chamber even less representative.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed his party's five new peers, including agricultural economist Julia Aglionby, former Barnsley councillor Hannah Kitching, economist Tim Leunig, campaigns director Dave McCobb and offshore wind entrepreneur Mark Petterson. He said they would help hold the government to account and support efforts to reform the House of Lords.

The Conservatives' new peers include former head of the Army General Sir Patrick Sanders, Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross and University of Warwick professor Swaran Singh. The party said all three would bring valuable expertise from defence, business and healthcare.

Calls for House of Lords reform

Members of the House of Lords are formally appointed by the King on the advice of the prime minister once nominees have completed the vetting process.

Labour pledged in 2022 to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a new second chamber, but later softened that commitment. Instead, the party promised to consider wider reform while immediately removing the remaining hereditary peers, a change completed earlier this year.

Andy Burnham has continued to argue for a fundamental overhaul of the unelected chamber, saying it is difficult to justify having half of the UK's national legislature made up of unelected members.

The Electoral Reform Society also questioned the latest appointments, saying Labour supporters would be puzzled by the expansion of the Lords while the party continues to promise reform. The group's chief executive, Darren Hughes, urged the next prime minister to create a smaller, democratic upper chamber that is more representative and accountable.

Join the discussion?

17 July 2026

View full article

Absolutely disgusting a total aberration of what Great Britain once was.

Reminds me of Biden's last few weeks, pardoning Hunter etc.

Jobs for the boys.

That a cretin, devoid of morals like Sadiq Khan can be knighted and now sit in the house of lords makes a mockery of the country.

No wonder the world looks at Britain as some kind of joke.

Sadiq Khan is a popular mayor, loved by Londoners. Poor white americans will try to say otherwise, but Brits don't care what they think. China is far more important in 2027.

2 hours ago, PhilipHabib said:

Absolutely disgusting a total aberration of what Great Britain once was.

Don't worry, he previously said it should be abolished so I'm sure he will politely turn down this offer.

Khan Once Said the Lords Should Be Abolished — Now Starmer Wants to Make Him One

Otherwise he'd be a massive hypocrite on top of everything else.

The last straw in breaking this title away from any semblance to worth, nobleness or honour.

Shameless political crookery.

Is England ever in deep trouble.

As a Londoner myself who has voted for Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances - we still have the 60+ Oyster Freedom Card which entitles us to free travel on all London transport after 9am. Oh and living in London as I have for 40 years I have never been stabbed, burgled or even seen a violent crime. As have most of my friends and family pretty much. And even if you were to focus on knife crime where nay is too much then it;'s nothing compared to the US. And school shootings there have been none. So Elon Musk and his salivating devotees can go hang.

3 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

As a Londoner myself who has voted for Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances - we still have the 60+ Oyster Freedom Card which entitles us to free travel on all London transport after 9am. Oh and living in London as I have for 40 years I have never been stabbed, burgled or even seen a violent crime. As have most of my friends and family pretty much. And even if you were to focus on knife crime where nay is too much then it;'s nothing compared to the US. And school shootings there have been none. So Elon Musk and his salivating devotees can go hang.

How is cuckoo land these days?

So does this officialize GB being an Islamic State?

11 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

A Kings apparent misuse of a sword.

14 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

How is cuckoo land these days?

Err actually lovely - just finished watering my garden and we are planning to go to Tower Bridge (travelling free) to https://pottersfields.co.uk/event/thai/ where amongst friends that and farang we will enjoy delicious home cooked food and beers in the balmy summer London sunshine with most probably no stabbings or car rammings as much as some of you here want that to underpin your depraved beliefs. And probably get to meet the Thai Ambassador and his wife with whom my wife and her group are well acquainted. Most often our lives are seen through the lens of our own experiences and outcomes and admit it most of you don't like him because you are racists - pure and simple.

1 minute ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Err actually lovely - just finished watering my garden and we are planning to go to Tower Bridge (travelling free) to https://pottersfields.co.uk/event/thai/ where amongst friends that and farang we will enjoy delicious home cooked food and beers in the balmy summer London sunshine with most probably no stabbings or car rammings as much as some of you here want that to underpin your depraved beliefs. And probably get to meet the Thai Ambassador and his wife with whom my wife and her group are well acquainted. Most often our lives are seen through the lens of our own experiences and outcomes and admit it most of you don't like him because you are racists - pure and simple.

Good to know someone is enjoying Londonstan

14 minutes ago, novacova said:

So does this officialize GB being an Islamic State?

A Kings apparent misuse of a sword.

So by inference you are suggesting the King should stab Lord Khan. If I was in charge I would have peasants like you dragged from your hovel and horse whipped for your insolence.

I would like to see the House of Lords abolished and replaced with an elected assembly there are too many "jobs for the boys" in this country.

5 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

So by inference you are suggesting the King should stab Lord Khan.

Given your lame presumption, you have no idea what was implied by my statement.

7 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

If I was in charge I would have peasants like you dragged from your hovel and horse whipped for your insolence.

This is exactly what my ancestors did to your ancestors for their insolence, as your statement makes it clear.

14 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Good to know someone is enjoying Londonstan

If you're going to use that term, at least spell it correctly. It's Londinistan, not Londonstan. The word is a blend of London and the Persian suffix "-stan", meaning "land of" or "place of" (as in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan). It became a controversial nickname in the 1990s and early 2000s, used by some journalists and commentators to suggest that London had become a haven for Islamist extremists. Whether one agrees with the label or not, Londinistan is the established term; Londonstan is simply a misspelling or misunderstanding of its origin.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Besides which with the forthcoming coronation of King Andy the correct term will be "That London" or in your case "That Londinistan"

Edited July 17Jul 17 by beautifulthailand99

7 minutes ago, novacova said:

Given your lame presumption, you have no idea what was implied by my statement.

This is exactly what my ancestors did to your ancestors for their insolence, as your statement makes it clear.

Who , pray are your ancestors ?

4 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Who , pray are your ancestors ?

they must have been the ones that whipped your ancestry into submission

Fortunately, what the bigoted posters fail to realise is that Mayor Khan is a popular mayor who has done wonders for the capital. Londoners like him and will no doubt continue to elect him, if they can.

He should be hung, drawn & quartered, not promoted - even Boris was a better Mayor - shame on you (& your majesty)

19 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

As a Londoner myself who has voted for Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances - we still have the 60+ Oyster Freedom Card which entitles us to free travel on all London transport after 9am. Oh and living in London as I have for 40 years I have never been stabbed, burgled or even seen a violent crime. As have most of my friends and family pretty much. And even if you were to focus on knife crime where nay is too much then it;'s nothing compared to the US. And school shootings there have been none. So Elon Musk and his salivating devotees can go hang.

"Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances"

Love the sarcasm.....GOOD ONE!!

Some people don't understand what democracy means. Sadiq Khan has been elected three times to serve as the Mayor of London, winning in 2016, 2021, and achieving a historic third consecutive term in the May 2024 mayoral election.

Some wish the people hadn't done this as they don't believe in democracy.

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Some people don't understand what democracy means. Sadiq Khan has been elected three times to serve as the Mayor of London, winning in 2016, 2021, and achieving a historic third consecutive term in the May 2024 mayoral election.

Some wish the people hadn't done this as they don't believe in democracy.

I doubt any of those criticising him have ever been anywhere near London!

3 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances"

Love the sarcasm.....GOOD ONE!!

It's not sarcasm. I stand by every word, and I'd vote for him again.

The awkward truth is that Londoners have elected Sadiq Khan three times. You don't have to like him, but that's democracy. The people who actually live in London have repeatedly judged him the better option.

What always amuses me is the selective outrage. Some of you endlessly obsess over every knife crime headline from thousands of miles away while happily living in countries where the annual carnage on the roads dwarfs anything you'd tolerate in Britain. Somehow that barely warrants a mention, but one incident in London becomes proof that the city has collapsed. It's a remarkably convenient double standard.

Perhaps that's because democracy, accountability, and the rule of law are easier to sneer at from countries where those things are considerably weaker. Cheap living has its attractions, but pretending it comes with no trade-offs is simply self-deception.

You wanted cheap. You got cheap. The rest of us will stick with living in a country where governments can be voted out, courts remain independent, and criticism of those in power doesn't depend on staying in their good books.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Some people don't understand what democracy means. Sadiq Khan has been elected three times to serve as the Mayor of London, winning in 2016, 2021, and achieving a historic third consecutive term in the May 2024 mayoral election.

Some wish the people hadn't done this as they don't believe in democracy.

Exactly - Thailand bought an election for $2 billion - not a peep.

On 7/17/2026 at 1:44 PM, beautifulthailand99 said:

As a Londoner myself who has voted for Lord Khan every election it is richly and definitely deserved. Congratulations he does a brilliant job under difficult circumstances - we still have the 60+ Oyster Freedom Card which entitles us to free travel on all London transport after 9am. Oh and living in London as I have for 40 years I have never been stabbed, burgled or even seen a violent crime. As have most of my friends and family pretty much. And even if you were to focus on knife crime where nay is too much then it;'s nothing compared to the US. And school shootings there have been none. So Elon Musk and his salivating devotees can go hang.

You certainly have a sterling sense of humor, I have never been so entertained!🤣

4 hours ago, phil2407 said:

He should be hung, drawn & quartered, not promoted - even Boris was a better Mayor - shame on you (& your majesty)

The hatred from racists is quite something.

I don't like Khan purely because he has done little to encourage business growth in London. Unless you count vape shops.

"He delivered the Elizabeth Line"! He was down in the tunnels with a pick and shovel?

And his obsession with 20 mph limits, extending to ever more arterial thoroughfares. The amount of wasted productivity caused by these limits is never highlighted: anyone who drives for a living wastes time / earns less when a journey across or into London is mostly at 20 mph, not 30/40 mph.

On 7/17/2026 at 10:42 AM, JonnyF said:

Reminds me of Biden's last few weeks, pardoning Hunter etc.

Or Trump's pardoning of all the thugs that attacked the capital?

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

Or Trump's pardoning of all the thugs that attacked the capital?

Brilliant back in yer face Ronnie!

AN resident bigot who’s obsessed with Hunter Biden will be spitting feathers at the news that H. Biden successfully sued (can’t be arsed to remember the defendant) for $1.5 million in court yesterday.