Sadiq Khan sworn into the House of Lords as Lord Khan of Tooting

London mayor Sadiq Khan formally joined the House of Lords on Tuesday 15 September, taking the oath as Lord Khan of Tooting and sitting as a Labour peer.

He was sworn in at the start of business alongside another new Labour peer, Lord Neri, who is director of UK Music. About a dozen London Labour MPs watched from the bar of the chamber, among them Dawn Butler, Tulip Siddiq and Rupa Huq. Lord Kinnock and Baroness Kennedy accompanied him, and members of his family were also present, according to ITV News London.

The title ties him to Tooting, the part of south London where he was born and which he represented as an MP for 11 years. Before entering Parliament he worked as a solicitor specialising in human rights law, and in government under Gordon Brown he rose to become a transport minister.

What changes at City Hall?

His peerage was announced in mid-July. Reporting at the time said City Hall’s position was that Khan has no intention of becoming a government minister while he is mayor, will keep attending the same meetings and will use the Lords seat to speak up for London.

He is now the first peer to hold the mayoralty. Do not confuse the post with the Lord Mayor of London, the largely ceremonial role linked to the City of London.

The 2028 question

Khan, elected in 2016, is the longest-serving mayor since the post was created in 2000. His current term ends in 2028, and there has been speculation that he will not seek a record fourth term. He has not confirmed his plans in the reports we reviewed.

Sources:

• ITV News London, 15 Sept 2026: https://www.itv.com/news/london/2026-09-15/mayor-of-london-lord-sadiq-khan-sworn-into-house-of-lords
• London Centric, 18 July 2026: https://www.londoncentric.media/p/sadiq-khan-lord-khan-fourth-term