Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has just received a significant boost from outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has appointed him to the House of Lords. The move comes days before Starmer's expected resignation from Downing Street and is likely to fuel speculation about Khan's long-term ambitions within Labour.
Starmer's decision to elevate Khan was reportedly aimed at consolidating Labour's progressive wing, and sources close to the Prime Minister-in-waiting had previously indicated a desire to appoint him to the upper chamber following the local elections in May. While Khan has been tipped for a peerage for some time, his office has consistently maintained that he remains committed to focusing on the remaining two years of his current mayoral term.
Despite having no apparent ambition to serve as a minister in Andy Burnham's cabinet – should Burnham form a government – Khan's appointment is likely to open up new opportunities for him within Labour. With a decade's experience as a London MP and three consecutive terms as Mayor, he has demonstrated an ability to attract support beyond the party's traditional voter base. As the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, Khan has navigated London through several significant challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, terrorist attacks, and the climate emergency.
Khan joins the ranks of regional mayors who also hold peerages, following in the footsteps of Ben Houchen, who was made a peer in 2023 while serving as Tees Valley Mayor. This latest announcement makes Khan one of several new peers appointed by Starmer this week – a move that is likely to draw criticism given its timing and volume.
The appointment has also raised questions about the politics behind it, with some pointing out that peerages typically occur in conjunction with major political events or during the spring/autumn seasons. While supporters of Starmer argue these appointments are an effort to rebalance the House of Lords – which has historically been dominated by the Conservatives and at times sought to impede legislation – the timing of Khan's elevation is undoubtedly unusual.