Starmer considers appointing Khan to House of Lords amidst local elections
Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly planning to elevate London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords in a strategic move to bolster his premiership, amid ongoing criticisms from Khan. This development comes ahead of the upcoming local elections scheduled for May 7, reports BritPanorama.
Khan, a vocal critic of Starmer and his policies on key issues such as Brexit, Gaza, and immigration, may soon find himself positioned closer to the Prime Minister should he accept the honorary title. Such a move is also viewed as an effort to consolidate support within the Labour Party following expected poor election results.
In light of anticipated challenges during the elections, Starmer is also expected to conduct a reshuffle of his top team. This may include appointing some of his most prominent rivals to Cabinet positions, as a tactic to mitigate threats of a leadership challenge.
Despite these speculations, Downing Street has stated that Khan is not currently in line for any honours. Nevertheless, it is expected that Starmer will appoint Khan as part of a larger group of around 40 new peers, which includes 25 hereditary peers whose automatic right to enter the House of Lords is being abolished.
Following recent by-election results, where the Greens achieved significant victories, Khan publicly admonished Starmer for characterizing the party as “extreme.” In an op-ed for a national newspaper, Khan argued, “The vast majority of those who are thinking of voting Green are not extreme… Many share our values and hopes for the country, but are disappointed with the government. Calling them extreme will only turn more people away.”
While Khan has refrained from explicitly calling for Starmer’s resignation, he cautioned that the Prime Minister’s “good work” could be overshadowed by “missteps and political positioning.” This sentiment underscores the precarious nature of Labour’s standing as it faces mounting pressures from both internal and external sources.
In response to the ongoing political climate, Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham, criticized the potential appointment as a “consolation prize,” suggesting that it does little to address the growing dissatisfaction regarding crime and governance in London.
As the local election outcomes loom, Labour’s strategic maneuvers regarding Khan’s potential elevation may serve as a significant chapter in Starmer’s leadership journey.
This dynamic reflects wider trends within British politics, where the interplay of local and national governance continues to shape party strategies in a climate of division and competition.
