London mayor Sadiq Khan sworn into House of Lords

News imageParliament Sadiq Khan, wearing scarlet and ermine robes, taking the oath in the House of LordsParliament
The mayor of London has become Lord Khan of Tooting

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has taken his place in the House of Lords.

Sir Sadiq, who has become Lord Khan of Tooting, took the oath in the upper chamber at the start of business as he became a Labour member of the Lords.

Lord Khan has become one of the foremost Labour politicians in Britain after his decade as London mayor.

His tenure, after being elected in 2016, has made him the longest-serving mayor of London since its creation in 2000.

Members of his family plus about a dozen London Labour MPs, including Dawn Butler (Brent East), Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) and Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) watched on from the bar of the Lords as he was sworn in.

He has become a peer for the area of London in which he was born, and represented for 11 years as an MP.

News imageParliament Sadiq Khan, wearing scarlet and ermine robes, signs a large book at a table in the House of Lords as a clerk in a wig looks onParliament
Lord Khan signed the roll after taking the oath, with a Lords clerk at his side

Lord Khan has also served in government under Gordon Brown, rising to transport minister. Before entering the Commons he had worked as a solicitor, specialising in human rights law.

He was accompanied by former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and human rights lawyer, Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws.

He took the traditional oath alongside fellow new Labour member of the House of Lords, Lord Roberto Neri.

News imageParliament Sadiq Khan Seen from behind, a man in scarlet robes stands at the clerks' table in the House of Lords with his hand on a bookParliament
Lord Khan wears the traditional ermine-trimmed robes, swearing his oath in front of peers and guests

Lord Neri is the current director of UK Music, after a career in the industry.

He was accompanied by Lords chief whip Lord Kennedy of Southwark, and Labour peer Baroness Kennedy of Cradley Heath.

After taking the oath, both were met with cheers as they shook hands with Lord Speaker Lord Forsyth of Drumlean.

Lord Khan then embraced leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon, her deputy Lord Collins of Highbury and former Eastenders actor Lord Cashman as he left the chamber.

Both new peers had their peerages announced in the final week of Sir Keir Starmer's time in Downing Street.

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