Sadiq Khan was sworn into the House of Lords on Tuesday afternoon, accepting a life peerage while telling peers and the public he will continue to put London’s interests at the heart of his work.
From council estate to the upper chamber
The Mayor of London — now serving a third term at City Hall — took the oath in the Lords’ chamber in front of colleagues, including former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws.
During the short ceremony he declared:
“I Sadiq, Lord Khan of Tooting, do swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty, King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God.”
As he left the chamber Lord Khan embraced senior Labour peers including Baroness Smith of Basildon and her deputy, Lord Collins of Highbury, as well as former EastEnders actor Lord Cashman.
Peerage granted after government change
The peerage is one of 26 life peerages announced when Sir Keir Starmer left Downing Street in July. The outgoing prime minister described Mr Khan as a “brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better”, saying he was thoroughly deserving of the honour.
Ahead of his formal elevation, the new Lord Khan described himself as “truly honoured” and signalled he would keep campaigning for the capital.
“This country and our capital city gave me the opportunity to go from a council estate to being Mayor of London, and I’m truly honoured to be given a peerage,” he said.
He listed a number of achievements as mayor — from delivering free school meals for all state primary pupils to environmental and transport work — and said his focus would remain on giving Londoners the chance to reach their full potential.
Local reaction and questions of balance
On the streets of Tooting and around City Hall, reactions were mixed. Some residents welcomed the recognition of London’s global role; others questioned how a mayor can simultaneously hold a seat in the Lords while leading the capital.
One local said the peerage underlined Khan’s national profile, but added that Londoners would want to see it does not distract from day-to-day responsibilities managing the city’s services and safety.
The mayor has insisted he will continue his mayoral duties, pledging to keep “banging the drum for London as the greatest city in the world and continuing to work tirelessly to build a fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous city for everyone.”
What the peerage means in practice
Life peerages allow holders to sit, speak and vote in the House of Lords. For a serving mayor, that raises practical questions about scheduling, potential conflicts and the division of labour between City Hall and Westminster.
Labour’s parliamentary and London teams will need to coordinate carefully to ensure representation of London's interests in both forums. The mayor’s office has previously managed high-profile national roles alongside city leadership, but the Lords seat formalises a presence in the legislature.
- Ceremony: Sworn into the House of Lords on Tuesday afternoon.
- Peers created: One of 26 life peerages announced after the July change of government.
- Mayor’s pledge: Continue championing London while serving as a peer.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full title on oath | Lord Khan of Tooting |
| Ceremonial witnesses | Lord Kinnock, Baroness Helena Kennedy |
| Peerages announced | 26 in July |
Holding local power to account
As a reporter in London I have seen the competing demands on the mayor’s office: policing, transport decisions, air quality measures and education initiatives each require sustained attention. The mayor’s new status as a peer will be closely watched by Londoners and councillors alike for signs it strengthens the city’s voice nationally or, conversely, dilutes focus.
Opposition politicians and civic groups are likely to press for clarity on how time and responsibilities will be divided, and whether the peerage will confer additional leverage when lobbying central government.
For now, the mayor has framed the peerage as recognition of London’s role in his life and a platform to keep pushing for the capital’s interests. The coming months will show how that promise translates into action across two demanding political arenas.
