Sadiq Khan destroyed over peerage after calling for House of Lords abolition
Labour London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is under fire after accepting a peerage to the House of Lords — despite previously calling for the upper chamber to be scrapped
He’s been slammed(Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)
Sadiq Khan has been slammed after accepting a peerage, despite previously advocating for the abolition of the House of Lords. The Labour London Mayor had called for the upper chamber to be scrapped in 2022, but is now poised to join the red benches after being elevated to the peerage by outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham blasted: “Sadiq Khan wanted the House of Lords abolished. Now he’ll happily take a seat there as Lord Khan. What changed? Your principles, or your title? Isn’t being Mayor of London enough of a title for you? And will you now resign?”.
Sir Sadiq is among 16 new political appointments made by the Prime Minister as he prepares to step down, while Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has put forward five nominations and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed three.
Khan has been handed a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Getty)
The Conservatives also took aim at Sir Sadiq’s peerage, with Shadow Minister for London Gareth Bacon stating: “Sadiq Khan has been a disastrous Mayor of London. Under his watch, housebuilding has collapsed to levels not seen since the Second World War.
“He has almost doubled his share of Council tax, he hammered motorists with ULEZ expansion and repeated Congestion Charge increases, all the while allowing Londoners to endure hundreds of days of TfL strikes.”, reports the Express.
“Rewarding this record of abysmal failure will come as slap in the face to every Londoner and it speaks volumes about a Labour Party that rewards cronyism. Sadiq Khan has done nothing to earn a place in the Lords.”
A Government source said: “Sadiq has been a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better, so this is thoroughly deserved. He has cut violent crime to record lows, cleaned up the capital’s air, delivered the Elizabeth Line and got London building council homes again.”
A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq said his role at City Hall “continues to be the privilege of Sadiq’s life” and he will dedicate his efforts to “standing up for our city and building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone”.
They added: “Sadiq is honoured to be given a peerage. London gave Sadiq the opportunities to go from a council estate to being mayor of London, and his focus will continue to be ensuring that all Londoners get the same shot at reaching their full potential that London gave him and his family.”
