Sadiq Khan among 26 new peers to enter the Lords
BBC News 2026-07-16 16:58:15
Context: London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is among 26 new peers appointed to the House of Lords in a list of nominations published by Downing Street, an act that is one of the last by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The nominations include 16 Labour peers, five from the Liberal Democrats, three from the Conservatives, and two cross-bench members. This move has been met with criticism from some, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who argued that it represented an "uniparty" and that the appointments did not reflect the diversity of political views in the UK.
Key Facts
- Sir Sadiq Khan, the current Mayor of London, has been nominated to become a Labour Lord alongside 15 others, including broadcaster June Sarpong and former union chief Christina McAnea.
- The government has announced a total of 26 new peerages, including five from the Liberal Democrats, three from the Conservatives, and two cross-bench members, such as former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson.
- Downing Street published the list of nominations and stated that the King "has been graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages" on the appointed individuals.
- Sir Sadiq Khan's nomination was notable as he is currently midway through his third term as London mayor, having first been elected in 2016, and has not yet decided whether to seek a fourth term in 2028.
- The Electoral Reform Society has called for the House of Lords to be reformed into a smaller, democratic chamber that is more representative of and accountable to the people of the UK, arguing that Labour's supporters would be baffled by the latest appointments given its plans to reform the chamber.