London Mayor Sadiq Khan appointed to the UK House of Lords

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been granted a life peerage, becoming one of 26 new members of the House of Lords announced by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The nominations, described as "political peerages," include 16 Labour appointees, five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and two cross‑benchers. Khan’s elevation comes just days before Starmer steps down and Andy Burnham is set to become the new Labour Prime Minister.

Legally Khan can sit in the Lords while remaining mayor, a combination previously seen with Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen. Sources say Khan does not intend to seek a ministerial role and wishes to focus on the remaining two years of his mayoral term, though he has not ruled out a fourth term in 2028. The move rekindles debate over the future of the Lords, with Labour having pledged reform and abolition of hereditary peers. Critics argue the honours list is unusually large for an outgoing prime minister, while supporters say the appointments rebalance a chamber long dominated by Conservatives.

The list also names former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald, retired judge Sir Brian Leveson and other figures from business, law and public service. Reform UK received no peerages, prompting leader Nigel Farage to denounce the honours as the "uniparty writ large".