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 announcedDowning 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 LondonSir 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 continuesReform 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 reformMembers 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
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