Sadiq Khan appointed to House of Lords in Starmer's honours list
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been made a lord in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's honours list, according to GB News.
How it was covered
- GB News was the only channel found covering it.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been appointed to the House of Lords as part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's honours list. The appointment was confirmed by GB News. Mr Khan, who was knighted last year, will now take a seat in the upper chamber. The honours list is a normal political honours list, not a resignation honours list, and includes some Conservative figures.
The decision has drawn criticism from some quarters, with commentators questioning the timing and Mr Khan's record as mayor, including the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the financial state of Transport for London. The House of Lords itself has come under scrutiny, with the removal of hereditary peers and the appointment of new peers seen by some as a political move. Reform UK, which received over 4 million votes in the last election, was not given any peerages, leading to accusations of an undemocratic system.
The attendance allowance for peers, which is tax-free and can be claimed for minimal attendance, was also highlighted as a point of contention. Mr Khan has not indicated any intention to run for Labour leadership, and his focus remains on London. The appointment has reignited debate about the need for reform of the House of Lords, with critics arguing that both hereditary and appointed peers are flawed.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Reform UK received no peerages despite getting 4.1 million votes. | |
| Sadiq Khan was given a peerage in Starmer's honours list. | |
| The honours list is a standard political honours list, not a resignation list, and includes some Conservative members. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on criticising the peerage system and Sadiq Khan's record as mayor, using sarcasm and personal anecdotes to dismiss the appointment. The tone was mocking and dismissive, with the host and guests arguing that the House of Lords is a joke and that Khan's reward is undeserved given his policies on ULEZ, housing, and TFL finances. The channel also highlighted the lack of peerages for Reform UK despite their vote share.
- “I can't think of anybody more deserving than Sadiq Khan for appearance. Absolutely well deserved. And in fact, if there was an honour higher than that, I'd give it to him too. I'm being sarcastic, what a joke.”
- “The system is a joke.”
- “Reform UK's, five MPs, six MPs, seven MPs, 4.1 million votes, not given any. That is even more undemocratic.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.