London Mayor Sadiq Khan handed a peerage by Keir Starmer alongside 15 other Labour figures... just days before the PM leaves No10

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 16:13, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 16:28, 16 July 2026 Sadiq Khan has been handed a peerage alongside 15 other Labour figures, in one of Keir Starmer's final acts as PM. The London Mayor is entering the House of Lords in the latest batch of honours nominated by Sir Keir. Broadcaster June Sarpong and former Unison general secretary Christina McAnea are also on the list.  In a potentially controversial move, Sir Sadiq will not give up his role as mayor - although it is understood he would not accept a ministerial role under incoming PM Andy Burnham.  It is unclear what Mr Burnham, who is set to take over in No10 on Monday, thinks of the appointments. He has long argued for reform of the Upper chamber, insisting last month that 'half of our national legislature being unelected' was 'quite scandalous' and that he would not 'rule out quite an early change'. Sadiq Khan is entering the House of Lords in the latest batch of honours nominated by Keir Starmer The list is separate to any resignation honours that Sir Keir might present Alison Garnham - Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group. Alison Lowe OBE - Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire. Barbara Mills KC - Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales (2025), family law barrister and Joint Head of Chambers at 4PB. Cathy Ashley OBE - Chief Executive of Family Rights Group and former Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Christina McAnea – Former General Secretary of UNISON. June Sarpong OBE - Broadcaster, charity campaigner and social equity advocate. The Rt Hon Ken Macintosh DL – Former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Kitty Ussher - British economist, former Member of Parliament for Burnley and former Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Marcus Davey CBE – Former CEO and Artistic Director of the Roundhouse. Martin McTague OBE - National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses. Nick Stace OBE - Chief Global Impact Officer at Howden Group. Parvais Jabbar MBE - Human rights expert, co-founder and Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project. Roberto Neri - CEO of The Ivors Academy and a Director of UK Music. The Rt Hon Sir Sadiq Khan - Mayor of London and former Member of Parliament for Tooting. Saul Lehrfreund MBE - Human rights expert, co-founder and Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project. Tim J Smith CBE – Former Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency. The Tories have nominated three new peers, including former army chief General Patrick Sanders and Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross. The Lib Dems have been granted five, but there were no spots for Reform. Former Appeal Court judge Sir Brian Leveson, author of the Leveson Report into media standards, becomes a crossbench peer.  The list is separate to any resignation honours that Sir Keir might present.  He has pointedly refused to rule out a set of farewell nominations, despite promising while in Opposition that he would never do one.  A spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: '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. 'Serving as mayor of the greatest city in the world continues to be the privilege of Sadiq's life. 'He is excited about what more can be delivered in the years ahead and he will devote his time and energy to standing up for our city and building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.' Allies insisted Sir Sadiq will 'continue to devote the same time and energy as Mayor building a fairer, safer and greener city for every Londoner'. He has yet to decide whether to stand for a fourth term in the job. 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.' Mr Burnham, a former Greater Manchester Mayor, has previously backed turning the chamber into an elected senate of regions and nations, and is reportedly considering plans to appoint metro mayors to the red benches as a first step towards a more representative body. The Lib Dems have nominated agricultural economist Julia Aglionby, former Barnsley councillor and physiotherapist Hannah Kitching, economist Tim Leunig, Lib Dem campaigns director Dave McCobb and offshore wind entrepreneur Mark Petterson for the Lords. Party leader Ed Davey said: 'I am absolutely delighted that Julia, Hannah, Tim, Dave and Mark will be joining our brilliant Liberal Democrat team in the House of Lords. 'Each of them has the right skills, experience and values to help us hold the Government to account, deliver the change people need, and fix our broken politics, including reforming the House of Lords.' Sir Keir has been under pressure to stand by his promise not to hand out honours to mark his resignation. Prime Ministers typically compile a list of gongs when they quit, often rewarding close aides and political allies. In the past even relatively junior staffers have received OBEs, while others have been granted a peerage in recognition of their dedication.  However, Sir Keir has been scathing about the convention in the past, and flatly ruled out issuing one. In 2023, when Boris Johnson's list emerged,  he was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he would hand out resignation honours. 'No. There are other opportunities,' he replied. 'Tony Blair didn't have a resignation list. It's very hard to justify…  'There are other avenues for that and I think it's easier to be clean about this and simply say, no, I wouldn't do it.' No10 has yet to clarify whether Sir Keir will issue a list, which often emerge many months after a premier's departure.