Sadiq Khan knighthood makes ‘UK a laughing stock’ – London Mayor’s honour sparks anger.uk
Reform and the Tories hit out at the award for the Labour Mayor of London.
Lee Anderson slams Sadiq Khan over his running of London
Lee Anderson has launched a scathing attack on Sadiq Khan after the London Mayor was awarded a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list.
And Tory shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has accused Labour of putting party interests ahead of those of the nation after the decision was confirmed this evening.
Sir Sadiq, who has been London Mayor since 2016, was honoured along with other high-profile figures including former England manager Gareth Southgate and Stephen Fry.
Under his tenure, London has seen significant investments in infrastructure and a focus on environmental initiatives such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
However, Sir Sadiq’s leadership has not been without controversy and critics point to spiralling knife crime, plus the ongoing housing crisis, and challenges in delivering key projects as notable shortcomings.
Sadiq Khan and Reform UK MP Lee Anderson (Image: GETTY)
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Reform UK MP for Ashfield Mr Anderson was deeply unimpressed, telling Express.co.uk: “This country is fast becoming a laughing stock.
“Most Brits will struggle to name one positive thing Sadiq Khan has done for our capital city.
“If the man had any shame he would hand the award back and apologise for ruining our capital city.”
Mr Philp, the Conservative MP for Croydon South, who served as Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire in the administration of Rishi Sunak, was similarly critical.
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (Image: Getty)
He said: “Under Sadiq Khan Londoners have faced a 61 per cent 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.
“By rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan, Keir Starmer has shown once again that for Labour it is Party first, country second.”
Reacting to his award, Sir Sadiq, the son of a London bus driver, said: “I couldn’t have dreamed when growing up on a council estate in south London that I would one day be mayor of London.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has also been critical of Sadiq Khan (Image: Getty)
“It’s the honour of my life to serve the city I love and I will continue to build the fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous London that all of the capital’s communities deserve.”
A former human rights lawyer, he was elected as MP for Tooting in 2005, serving as a junior minister under Gordon Brown and then as shadow justice secretary under Ed Miliband.
Earlier this year, he was accused of not taking knife crime “seriously” earlier this year by then cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch.
A petition started by a Conservative councillor opposing his knighthood has attracted more than 200,000 signatures since December 5.
He has also courted controversy over a series of public spats with Donald Trump, set to return to the White House next month.
In 2018, Sir Sadiq’s office gave permission for an inflatable depicting Mr Trump as a baby to fly in Parliament Square as the then-US president visited the UK.
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