Mayor jokes with monarch about who’s the bigger ‘workaholic’ as Tories blast 61% knife crime surge and 70% council tax hike under his watch – while 212,000 sign petition against honour
Sadiq Khan received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace today despite a massive backlash at what critics are calling a ‘reward for failure’.
The London Mayor was given the honour by the King at Buckingham Palace, saying the monarch was ‘chuffed’ to bestow it – even joking about who was the bigger “workaholic” between them.
However, the Tories have condemned the award claiming that Sir Sadiq has not managed to get a grip on violent crime in the capital, with a petition against the honour attracting more than 212,000 signatures.
Sir Sadiq has been Mayor since 2016, becoming the first person to win a third term in the role. Before that he was Labour MP for Tooting, serving as a junior minister under Gordon Brown’s premiership.
‘SLAP IN THE FACE TO LONDONERS’
Shadow home secretary and Croydon MP Chris Philp led the charge against the knighthood, declaring it “a slap in the face to Londoners.”
Two days ago, volunteers had to take matters into their own hands and clean graffiti off tube carriages because Sadiq Khan was failing to act,” he fumed.
“Today the Mayor received his knighthood. This is a slap in the face to Londoners who have faced a council tax hike of over 70 per cent, a surge in knife crime and an increase in red tape stifling bars and restaurants on his watch.
“At the same time, the Mayor seems more interested in trying to decriminalise cannabis than making London a better place to live. Sadiq Khan’s knighthood is a reward for failure.”
EMOTIONAL PALACE CEREMONY
The knighthood for political and public service was announced in the New Year Honours, but was only formally bestowed by the King today in a traditional ceremony where the mayor went down on one knee and was dubbed with a sword.
Afterwards, Sir Sadiq posted on Facebook: “The London promise: if you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything.
Immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King today. Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never could have imagined that I’d one day receive this great honour while serving as the Mayor of London.
It’s a truly humbling moment for myself and my family, and one that I hope inspires others to believe in the incredible opportunities that our great capital offers.
ROYAL BANTER
In a remarkably casual exchange with the monarch, Sir Sadiq revealed they had joked about their work ethic during the ceremony.
I have got the pleasure of working closely with the King. We were just comparing who’s a bigger workaholic,” the 54-year-old told reporters.
“He was very chuffed that he managed to personally give me this honour and he actually apologised for it taking so long – which is not a problem at all.”
The mayor, a second-generation immigrant whose father was a bus driver and mother a seamstress, said his mother had been “emotional since it was announced on January 1.
DAMNING STATISTICS
Critics have highlighted Khan’s record during his time in office, with London dubbed the ‘knife crime capital’ under his watch.
Mr Philp pointed out: “Under Sadiq Khan, Londoners have faced a 61% increase in knife crime, a housing crisis and a 70% increase in council tax. They will rightly be furious his track record of failure is being rewarded.”
The Metropolitan Police has been forced into special measures during Khan’s tenure, while he has sparked anger among drivers with Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) and increases in the congestion charge.
PETITION SURGES
A Change.org petition titled “Stop the Knighthood of Sadiq Khan” launched by Conservative councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman has attracted massive support.
The petition describes a city which “now stands divided thanks to Khan’s polarizing politics,” adding: “London’s crime rate has seen a marked increase during his tenure with knife crime reaching record heights in recent years.
“Despite being in a position to enact change, Khan continues to ignore these grave issues, instead placing blame elsewhere rather than taking decisive action himself.”
Goodwin-Freeman said: “To see Sadiq Khan be given a knighthood is a kick in the teeth for millions of Londoners. He refuses to take responsibility for his failures and shows no remorse or accountability.”
‘PARTY FIRST, COUNTRY SECOND’
In a reference to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pledge to put “country first, party second”, Mr Philp added: “By rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan, Keir Starmer has shown once again that for Labour it is ‘party first, country second’.
The Spectator magazine questioned why Khan, who has vowed to “decolonise” London and introduced grants to change street names commemorating colonial figures, would accept an honour “dripping with colonial associations.
“Agreeing to become a Knight of the Order of the British Empire, when it seems he detests everything about said Empire, opens him up to charges of gross hypocrisy,” the magazine noted.
DEFIANT RESPONSE
Sir Sadiq hit back at his critics, telling reporters: “Look, today’s not the first time the Conservatives have criticised me. Unless they’ve done a new year’s resolution, it won’t be the last time they criticise me.”
He insisted the honour showed “that in London, if you work hard, there’s a helping hand, you can achieve anything. I think the rest of the world are looking at our country and seeing what a great country this is, and what a great city London is.”
Asked what he was proudest of during his time as Mayor, Sir Sadiq cited free school meals for primary school children, “cleaning the air and investing in affordable housing.
OTHERS HONOURED
Labour’s Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005, received her damehood at the same Buckingham Palace ceremony for political and public service.
The 64-year-old chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee said she was “fizzy with nerves” and wore brooches belonging to her mother and grandmother in her hat.
My grandmother used to work for Lloyds Bank and she wasn’t allowed to work after she got married. If she knew that I’d become a dame, she wouldn’t believe it,” she said.
Also honoured were rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston, author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, and broadcaster Sir Loyd Grossman, who declared London “the greatest city in the world.
TRUMP CONNECTION
The knighthood comes three weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration back into the White House, potentially putting Sir Sadiq on the invitation list for a state banquet if Trump is offered a second visit to the UK.
During Trump’s first term, the two men had a high-profile feud after Khan claimed it would be “un-British” to host him on a state visit. Trump responded by calling the mayor a “stone-cold loser.
Whether Sir Sadiq’s new title will help smooth over past tensions remains to be seen – but with over 200,000 Londoners signing a petition against his honour, he may have more immediate concerns closer to home.
