Keir Starmer is reportedly thinking of offering the Mayor of London a seat in the Lords to keep him on side after the local elections.
Should Starmer offer Sadiq Khan a peerage? (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer is said to be expected to offer the Mayor of London a peerage after the local elections in May. The prime minister would elevate Sir Sadiq Khan to the House of Lords to save his embattled premiership.
The Labour mayor has been a vocal critic of Sir Keir‘s administration so the offer could help “shore up” the PM’s position. An unnamed source told the Financial Times of the potential offer, a claim which was not denied by education minister Josh MacAlister when asked on Thursday.
Mr MacAlister, speaking to Sky News, said having members of the House of Lords in local government and in mayoral positions was “incredibly important” for the legislation the Government is trying to pass.
He also emphasised the importance of having draft legislation scrutinised by local leaders, who he said are “closest to the ground”.
The minister added: “So the principle of it is certainly not a bad idea. We’ve got lots of great mayors across the country.”
Sir Sadiq has criticised Sir Keir after Labour lost the Gorton and Denton by-election to the Green Party in February.
He also backed the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, when he took aim at Sir Keir’s leadership last year.