Sadiq Khan knighted in New Year’s Honours list
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours list.
The announcement comes after Khan completed a record-breaking third term as mayor, having previously worked as a human rights lawyer and Member of Parliament for Tooting.
Khan expressed himself as “truly humbled” by the recognition.
“It’s the privilege of my life to serve the city I adore,” added Khan, 54. “Growing up on a council estate in south London, I never imagined I’d one day be mayor of London. I will continue to work to make London a fairer, safer, greener, and more affluent place for all of its residents.
The award has generated debate, with detractors citing Khan’s policies and governance record.
Conservative councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, who spearheaded a petition opposing the knighthood, previously confronted Khan at a public gathering amid speculation about the accolade.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the knighthood “a reward for failure,” noting knife crime statistics and missed housing targets during Khan’s tenure.
The mayor has attracted criticism for his signature green project, the extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which opponents blamed for Labour’s loss in the Uxbridge by-election. The implementation has sparked protests and damage against enforcement cameras and signage.
However, supporters emphasized Khan’s accomplishments, such as providing free school lunches to London children and building a record number of council houses. Foreign Secretary David Lammy lauded Khan’s knighthood, stating that it epitomizes Britain as a nation where a council estate inhabitant can grow to become “the first Muslim in cabinet, mayor of our great capital city, and a knight of the realm.”
Khan’s knighthood completes a historic chapter in his tenure as London’s first Muslim mayor.
Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply