Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has formally taken his seat in the House of Lords as Lord Khan of Tooting, marking another major milestone in a political career that began in local government and has taken him from Tooting to City Hall and now the upper chamber of Parliament.
Khan was introduced to the Lords on Tuesday afternoon, with Parliament’s official order paper listing the introduction of Lord Khan of Tooting alongside Lord Neri.
Labour MPs and colleagues were among those congratulating him on the occasion. Putney MP Fleur Anderson wrote simply:
“Congratulations Lord Khan of Tooting!”
Khan was elevated to the peerage earlier this summer and formally became Lord Khan of Tooting in August. He will continue serving as Mayor of London alongside his role in the House of Lords.
From Tooting to City Hall
The title reflects Khan’s longstanding connection with Tooting, the south London community where he grew up and which he represented in Parliament for more than a decade.
Born in London to a working-class family, Khan trained as a human rights solicitor before entering politics. He served as a councillor in Wandsworth and was elected MP for Tooting in 2005.
During his time in the Commons he served in ministerial and shadow ministerial roles before being elected Mayor of London in 2016.
He has since won three mayoral elections and remains one of Labour’s most prominent elected politicians.
‘Truly honoured’
Ahead of taking his seat, Khan said he was “truly honoured” to receive the peerage and reflected on the opportunities Britain and London had given him.
He said:
“This country and our capital city gave me the opportunity to go from a council estate to being Mayor of London.”
Khan said public service had always motivated him and pointed to his record at City Hall, including free school meals for state primary pupils, investment in public transport, action on air pollution and programmes for young Londoners.
Another platform to champion London
Khan has indicated that his priority remains London and that he intends to use his position in the Lords as another platform to argue the capital’s case.
His arrival comes at a significant moment in the national debate about devolution, local government funding and the relationship between London and the rest of the country.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Government is seeking to transfer substantially more power to mayors and regional leaders, while figures including Khan have argued that devolution should strengthen every part of Britain without weakening the capital.
Khan has said he intends to continue “banging the drum for London” while serving in both roles.
A historic political journey
Khan’s introduction also carries symbolic significance.
His journey from a council estate in south London to Parliament, City Hall and now the House of Lords is one of the most distinctive careers in modern Labour politics.
His choice of Tooting in his title keeps that local connection at the heart of his new role.
As Lord Khan of Tooting, the Mayor now gains another national platform from which to champion London, public services, devolution and the communities that shaped his political career.
