Allies of London Mayor Sadiq Khan have firmly dismissed recent speculation that he could join Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet following a potential peerage. However, they have acknowledged that it remains possible for Khan to receive a peerage and enter the House of Lords while continuing to serve in his current role as mayor of London.
Downing Street and Labour Sources Decline to Comment
Downing Street has labelled reports suggesting Khan could become a peer after crucial elections in May across England, Scotland, and Wales as mere "speculation." A Labour source has also declined to comment on the matter, maintaining a cautious stance. Khan's allies have emphasised that any decision regarding a peerage ultimately rests with Number 10, but they have explicitly ruled out the possibility, cited by the Financial Times, of Khan being brought into Starmer's cabinet to strengthen the government's frontbench team.
Khan's Political Trajectory and Current Focus
Sadiq Khan served as a London MP for a decade before stepping down in 2016. He then won the first of three consecutive election victories to become London mayor, a position where he has successfully courted support beyond Labour's core vote, including from Greens and Liberal Democrats, to defeat Conservative opponents. Sources close to the mayor have stated that he is committed to focusing on the final two years of his current term. They pointed out that Khan has not yet announced whether he intends to seek an unprecedented fourth term as mayor, leaving his future political plans open to interpretation.
Precedent for Mayors in the House of Lords
Entering the House of Lords would not necessarily be incompatible with Khan's mayoral duties. A notable precedent exists with Ben Houchen, who was made a peer in 2023 while serving his second term as Tees Valley mayor. Houchen subsequently won a third term and has been an active, though not overly frequent, member of the Lords. In 2025, he attended 20% of Lords sittings and spoke once in the chamber, demonstrating that dual roles are feasible.
Broader Context of Peerage Appointments
Another wave of new peerages is expected soon, partly under a reported plan that will allow the Conservatives to reinstate approximately 15 hereditary peers as life members of the Lords. This follows a bill passed to remove the 92 remaining hereditary members, who have now lost their places. As of the end of last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had already created 96 new peers, with 65 of them from the Labour Party. This move was partly an attempt to facilitate the passage of legislation through the upper house.
The Size and Scale of the House of Lords
The House of Lords currently boasts 868 members, of whom 842 are active. This makes it the second largest legislative chamber in the world, surpassed only by China's National People's Congress. The ongoing appointments and reforms highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the UK's parliamentary system, with peerages serving as a strategic tool for political management and legislative efficiency.
In summary, while Sadiq Khan's entry into Keir Starmer's cabinet has been firmly dismissed by his allies, the possibility of him receiving a peerage and joining the House of Lords while remaining London mayor remains a topic of discussion. This aligns with existing precedents and the broader political context of peerage appointments under the current government.
