London (Monitoring Desk) – Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, is set to receive a knighthood in recognition of his political and public service, according to reports. The Financial Times has confirmed that Khan is included in the draft list for the New Year’s honours.
Khan, who became the first Muslim Mayor of London, was re-elected for a third term in May. He has also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) and as a minister under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The Financial Times added that the draft document is still awaiting final approval from Sir Keir Starmer or the King, as all honours are officially issued in the name of the monarch.
In addition to Khan, former Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry is also in line to receive a damehood in recognition of her services. Thornberry, who currently chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Commons, was previously removed from the frontbench by Starmer and later joined the government. She had also served as the Shadow Attorney General.
Other recipients of knighthoods include former Tory Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb, former Housing Minister Marcus Jones, and Ranil Jayawardena, Liz Truss’s Environment Secretary.
The Financial Times also reported that the government plans to release a new political list for peerages in the coming weeks, which is expected to include Sue Gray, former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. Several former Labour MPs, who resigned ahead of the elections to make way for new leadership, are also set to be elevated to the House of Lords.
