Sir Sadiq Khan: London mayor knighted in New Year honours list

LONDON: Sadiq Khan has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list after securing a record-breaking third term as Mayor of London. Sir Sadiq Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, said he was “truly humbled” by the honour.

He remarked, “I couldn’t have dreamed when growing up on a council estate in south London that I would one day be Mayor of London. It’s the honour of my life to serve the city I love, and I will continue to build a fairer, safer, greener, and more prosperous London for all the capital’s communities.”

Born to Pakistani parents in Tooting, South London, Sir Sadiq Khan began his career as a human rights lawyer before entering parliament in 2005 as the MP for his hometown. He served as a junior minister under Gordon Brown and later as shadow justice secretary under Ed Miliband.

In 2016, he defeated Conservative Zac Goldsmith to succeed Boris Johnson as Mayor of London, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major western city. He has since won two additional terms, solidifying his place in London’s history. As mayor, Sir Sadiq has focused on improving London’s transport system, including the introduction of names and colours for the London Overground railway lines.

A high-profile feud with former US President Donald Trump has also marked his tenure. Their clash began in 2015 when Sir Sadiq criticised Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

In 2018, Sir Sadiq’s office permitted the infamous “Trump Baby” inflatable to fly over Parliament Square during the US president’s visit to the UK. The feud escalated in June 2019, during Trump’s state visit, when the president called Sir Sadiq a “stone-cold loser” on Twitter. Sir Sadiq responded, “I’m not 12 years old in a playground. I’m just surprised Donald Trump thinks he is.”

In May 2024, Sir Sadiq made history by becoming the first person to secure a third term as London Mayor, defeating Conservative rival Susan Hall by a majority of 275,000 votes.

Following his re-election, Sir Sadiq praised Geo News for its coverage of the London mayoral elections, crediting the channel for combating racism, Islamophobia and fake news. “There was a lot of hate and fake news about me during this election campaign,” Khan said.

“Geo News reaches people’s bedrooms through all its platforms, educating and raising awareness. During my campaign, people told me they had seen my re-election efforts on Geo News.”

He said, “It’s crucial to counter misinformation in this age of fake news. I want to thank the decent journalists who call out racism, hate, and Islamophobia. I am grateful for the support of your viewers. Today, I am proud to be the mayor of the world’s greatest city.”