Sadiq Khan knighthood prompts Tory criticism

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been honored with a knighthood, along with several other politicians named in the New Year Honours list.

Sir Sadiq expressed that serving the city he loves has already been the “honor of [his] life” and that becoming a knight has left him “truly humbled”.

However, senior Conservatives including shadow home secretary Chris Philp have criticized the knighthood of the three-time mayor as a “reward for failure”.

Others on the honours list include senior Labour MP Emily Thornberry, former Conservative West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, and Nick Gibb, the former long-serving schools minister.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy congratulated Sir Sadiq, highlighting that in the UK, individuals like the mayor, who start from humble beginnings as the son of a bus driver, can rise to become knights.

He also commended Sir Sadiq for policies aimed at improving London’s air quality, increasing council housing, and providing free school meals.

However, Philp criticized Sir Sadiq for rising levels of knife crime in London and failing to meet housing targets.

He stated: “Under Sadiq Khan, London has seen a 61% increase in knife crime, a housing crisis, and a 70% rise in council tax – the recognition of his failures as a knighthood will undoubtedly anger many.

“By rewarding a failing Sadiq Khan, Keir Starmer once again demonstrates that for Labour, party allegiance comes before the country’s best interests.”

A petition opposing his knighthood was spearheaded by Conservative councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman.

Sir Sadiq predicts that criticism of his knighthood from the Conservatives will not be the last he receives.

“Unless they’ve made a New Year’s resolution, it won’t be the last time they critique me,” he told the PA news agency.

Sir Sadiq’s background is in human rights law, and he entered Parliament as MP for Tooting for Labour in 2005. He assumed the mayorship of London in 2016, succeeding Boris Johnson, and has since secured two additional terms.

Dame Emily expressed her surprise and honor at being appointed a dame.

“A few years ago, my husband was knighted, and I never felt comfortable using the title ‘Lady Nugee’. However, Dame Emily is a name I would proudly take on,” she stated.

She reflected on her grandmothers, both of whom were restricted in their professional pursuits as married women, and imagined their joy at witnessing her achievement.

Dame Emily has represented Islington South as an MP since 2005 and now serves as chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. She was not included in Sir Keir Starmer’s initial Cabinet following Labour’s general election triumph.

She now holds the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Sir Andy, the first mayor of West Midlands elected in 2017, acknowledged that his knighthood was a recognition of the collaborative efforts in the region to make his role successful. He emphasized that he was merely “the front man” for this project and that his appointment as a knight is a tribute to the people of the West Midlands.

Several former MPs were also honored in the annual list.

Former MP Ranil Jayawardena, who served as environment secretary during Liz Truss’s brief tenure as prime minister, and former Conservative deputy chief whip Marcus Jones have both been knighted.

Former Labour MP Kate Hollern, who lost her Blackburn seat to Independent candidate Adnan Hussain in July, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Lord Mike Katz, the national chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement who was recently ennobled by Sir Keir, has been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).