Sadiq Khan has been granted a position in the House of Lords by Keir Starmer, as part of the latest political peerages list released prior to Parliament’s summer recess. The Labour London Mayor will soon occupy a seat among distinguished individuals such as former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson, who are not aligned with any specific party.
Sir Chris was compelled to step down from his role by the Prime Minister following a No10 reshuffle linked to the Peter Mandelson controversy in February. Notably, the Prime Minister appointed 16 new Labour members to the Lords, including Christina McAnea, the ex-chief of major union Unison, and Alison Garnham, the chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group.
Moreover, Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey put forth five nominations, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch nominated three individuals. The recent cross-party list, as revealed by sources, was in progress before the Prime Minister’s announcement of his resignation. Additionally, there are indications of a forthcoming resignation honours list.
Keir Starmer hinted at the possibility of breaking his commitment not to confer resignation honours. This move has raised concerns, with Labour previously accusing the Conservatives of overpopulating the Lords while in office. The appointment of Sir Sadiq to the House of Lords potentially sets the stage for his inclusion in the Cabinet, as peers in the House of Lords can serve as ministers.
Despite the opportunity, a spokesperson for Sir Sadiq clarified that he has no intention of becoming a minister, emphasizing his dedication to improving London’s well-being. Furthermore, Sir Sadiq has not yet confirmed his candidacy for the 2028 London mayoral elections, a decision he typically announces later in the electoral process.
Acknowledging Sir Sadiq’s contributions, a Government source praised his transformative efforts in London, including achievements in crime reduction, environmental improvements, infrastructure development, and social housing initiatives. Keir Starmer’s list of appointments also features notable figures such as Barbara Mills KC, June Sarpong, and Alison Lowe.
The recent enactment of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 marked a significant change by discontinuing seats reserved for hereditary peers. Concerns persist regarding the House’s size, with ongoing calls to reduce its membership, which currently exceeds that of MPs. The Conservatives maintain the largest representation in the Lords, followed by Labour and crossbench peers, with the Liberal Democrats also holding a notable presence.
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