The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has revealed that his children believed he had “sold out” by accepting a knighthood.
He was knighted in the New Year Honours List, however, it was described by critics as “rewarding failure” following soaring crime rates in the capital. Sir Sadiq said he was “truly humbled” to receive the honour but confessed the news had been met with a mixed reception from family members.
He told the Comfort Eating podcast: “My mum is chuffed to bits, but my kids think it’s a joke.
“They think I’ve sold out, I’m part of the establishment, all that sort of stuff. My nephews and nieces think I’m elite. I’m not going to pretend it’s not lovely, it’s a huge honour.”
Mayor Khan has been mayor since 2016. Meanwhile, knife crime in London has increased by 38%. After it was reported that he was in line to receive the honour, an online petition against it ended up receiving more than 200,000 signatures in less than a month.
Sir Sadiq also told the podcast: “My parents, when they came to this country 60 years ago, the idea that one of their boys would be the mayor, let alone would have ‘Sir’ before their name, would have been unthinkable.”
However, families of knife crime victims said the knighthood was “an insult”, with campaigners saying the mayor had “completely ignored” their pleas. Courtney Barrett, the founder of the community group Binning Knives Saves Lives, said he was “aghast” when he heard that Sir Sadiq had been knighted.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also said Londoners would be “furious” about the honour. He added: “By rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan, Keir Starmer has shown once again that for Labour it is party first, country second.”
Sadiq Khan is also facing criticism for allegedly using London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display to “spew political propaganda” and troll former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The spectacle featured the songs ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me’ and ‘Things Can Only Get Better’.
The first song appeared to be a subtle reference to Mr Sunak’s General Election announcement outside 10 Downing Street, where he got soaked in the rain. The second song choice could be linked to the same speech when anti-Brexit protestor Steve Bray could be heard playing the hit while the then-Prime Minister spoke to the nation.
