Sadiq Khan among 26 new peers to enter the Lords

Sadiq Khan among 26 new peers to enter the LordsImage source, PA MediaByJoshua NevettPolitical reporterPublished7 minutes agoLondon Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is one of 26 new peers to be given seats in the House of Lords in one of Sir Keir Starmer's last acts as prime minister.Sir Sadiq has been nominated to become a Labour Lord alongside 15 others, including broadcaster June Sarpong and former union chief Christina McAnea.The government has also announced five new peers from the Liberal Democrats, three from the Conservatives and two cross-bench members, the former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and Sir Brian Leveson, a retired senior judge.Downing Street published a list of the nominations, external and said the King "has been graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages".The nominations come as Sir Keir prepares to leave office on Monday, when Andy Burnham is due to become the next prime minister.The BBC has been told this was a cross-party list of nominations that was being worked on before Sir Keir announced his resignation as Labour leader last month.It is a list of "political peerages" rather than resignation honours prime ministers usually grant on their departure from office.It comes after Sir Keir signalled he could hand out resignation honours when he leaves Downing Street, despite saying in 2023 he found giving out such awards "very hard to justify".Reform UK was not granted any peerages in the list published on Thursday.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the appointments were "the uniparty writ large"."Once again there is nothing for Reform and we get an even more unrepresentative upper house," Farage said.Sir Sadiq's nomination was among the most eye-catching on the list.The former Labour MP is mid-way through his third term as London mayor, having first been elected in 2016.The BBC understands Sir Sadiq is not seeking a ministerial role in Andy Burnham's incoming go...