**Sadiq Khan Nominated for Life Peerage in House of Lords as Keir Starmer Names 26 New Peers**
London, UK – In a significant political move, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been nominated for a life peerage in the House of Lords as part of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's final list of appointments. This announcement, made on July 16, 2026, includes a total of 26 new peers who will now have the opportunity to sit in the upper chamber of Parliament, where they can scrutinize, revise, and vote on legislation concerning the United Kingdom.
Khan, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and former Member of Parliament for Tooting, is currently serving his third term as mayor, having first been elected in 2016. His appointment marks a notable addition to the House of Lords, especially as it comes during a transitional period for the Labour leadership, with Andy Burnham expected to take over as Labour leader and Prime Minister shortly after Starmer's announcement.
The list of new peers reflects a diverse range of backgrounds, including politics, philanthropy, social action, the military, and business. Among the other nominees, 16 were nominated by Labour, five by the Liberal Democrats, three by the Conservatives, and two were crossbench peers, indicating no party affiliation.
Notable figures included in the nominations are Parvais Jabbar and Saul Lehrfreund, both human rights advocates and co-founders of the Death Penalty Project, as well as Cathy Ashley, a campaigner for families' rights and former head of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. The Conservative Party's nominations included General Sir Patrick Sanders, the former Chief of the General Staff of the British Army. The Liberal Democrats nominated economist Tim Leunig, who serves as the chief economist at the British social innovation foundation Nesta. Among the crossbench peers is Sir Brian Leveson, a former senior judge known for leading the 2011 Leveson Inquiry into the British press's conduct following the phone-hacking scandal.
Starmer's decision to nominate these individuals comes as he prepares to step down from his role as Prime Minister, with Burnham set to succeed him. This transition is noteworthy as it represents a shift in leadership within the Labour Party, which has been navigating its position in the political landscape amid changing public sentiments.
Interestingly, Starmer did not extend any nominations to the right-wing Reform UK party, which has recently gained seven MPs in the House of Commons following the resignation of Nigel Farage. Farage, who remains the party leader, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of representation for Reform UK in the new appointments, describing the upper house as becoming increasingly unrepresentative.
Before the latest appointments, the composition of the House of Lords showed a slight advantage for the Conservative Party, which held 246 seats compared to Labour's 216. The new appointments may further influence the balance of power in the upper chamber, as the Labour Party seeks to strengthen its presence.
As the new peers prepare to take their seats, the implications of their appointments will unfold in the coming months, particularly as the UK government continues to address pressing legislative issues. Khan's entry into the House of Lords is anticipated to bring his extensive experience in urban governance and social issues to the forefront of parliamentary discussions.
The House of Lords, known for its role in revising and scrutinizing legislation, will now welcome these new members, who are expected to contribute to the ongoing debates and decisions that shape the future of the United Kingdom.