Sir Sadiq Khan is to be given a peerage for his work as London mayor, by the outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The Labour mayor will take his seat on the red benches of the House of Lords alongside Sir Chris Wormald, the former cabinet secretary who was ousted by Sir Keir earlier this year, and Sir Brian Leveson, the retired judge who led the inquiry into press standards in 2012.
Confirming Sir Sadiq’s nomination, a government source praised him as a “brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better”.
They added: “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 peerage potentially opens the door for Sir Sadiq to join Andy Burnham’s new cabinet, due to be unveiled next week, given that members of the House of Lords are able to become ministers. But it is understood that Sir Sadiq will stay on as the city’s mayor and is not seeking a ministerial role.
His spokesperson said he was “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,” they added. “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.”
The honours were announced as part of a cross-party list understood to have been in the works before Sir Keir’s decision to stand down as prime minister, which followed Mr Burnham’s announcement that he intended to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership.
Others to have been elevated to the House of Lords in the prime minister’s resignation honours include the television presenter June Sarpong, and Christina McAnea, the former general secretary of the Unison union, which is one of Labour’s largest donors.
In 2023, Sir Keir said he would not submit a traditional resignation honours list when his time as prime minister ended, following controversies over the lists presented by Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
At the time, Sir Keir said: “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.”
Sir Keir also awarded peerages to Alison Graham, the chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group; to former Labour MP and economist Kitty Ussher; and to Parvais Jabbar, co-executive director of the Death Penalty Project.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch ennobled Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross; General Sir Patrick Sanders, a former chief of the General Staff of the army; and consultant psychiatrist Professor Swaran Singh.
Sir Ed Davey also welcomed five new Liberal Democrat peers.
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 have been elevated to the House of Lords.
Sir Ed said: “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.”
Read MoreFrom Sadiq Khan to Leveson: Sir Keir Starmer’s honours list in full
Frontrunners for Burnham’s cabinet revealed as next prime minister picks his top team
Burnham must back oil and gas drilling if he has any common sense – Badenoch
Andy Burnham latest: PM-in-waiting set to become Labour leader within hours
World Cup might not be ours but Falklands are, says No 10 after Argentina banner row
Nine African countries see UK aid slashed by more than 80 per cent
