When Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, was handed a peerage by outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer in July 2026, it raised eyebrows not just because of the timing — just days before Starmer stood down — but because it illustrated how the UK's arcane system of political appointments still shapes who wields power. Peerages, which grant a lifetime seat in the House of Lords, are a way for prime ministers to reward allies, balance party representation, or even open doors for future roles. But what exactly are they, and why do they still matter in modern Britain?
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of the UK Parliament. Unlike the House of Commons, whose members are elected, most Lords are appointed. The majority are life peers — people granted a title (like Baron or Baroness) for their lifetime, but whose children cannot inherit the seat. The prime minister nominates new peers, usually on the advice of political parties or an independent commission. In Starmer's final honours list, he appointed 26 new peers, including Khan, Christina McAnea (former general secretary of Unison), and broadcaster June Sarpong. Since coming to power two years earlier, Starmer had already appointed 66 peers, drawing criticism but also defending the moves as necessary to rebalance a chamber long dominated by Conservatives.
“What is a peerage and how does the House of Lords work, explained with the example of Sadiq Khan's appointment.”
The peerage system has deep roots. Until the 1958 Life Peerages Act, most hereditary peers inherited their seats. Reforms reduced their numbers, but appointments remain highly political. Critics say it allows prime ministers to pack the chamber with loyalists. In 2020, then-opposition leader Starmer criticised Rishi Sunak for letting Boris Johnson hand out peerages to political allies. Yet upon leaving office, Starmer himself signalled he might issue resignation honours — a tradition where outgoing PMs reward supporters. Khan's peerage was unusual: Downing Street said it was part of a regular list, but peerages are typically tied to political events, appearing in spring or autumn. The move potentially lets Khan join a future cabinet under incoming prime minister Andy Burnham, though sources close to Khan said he was committed to finishing his mayoral term and had no wish to be a minister.
For UK readers, peerages matter because they affect how laws are made. The Lords can block or delay legislation passed by the Commons, and its composition influences that power. Under Starmer, Labour's majority in the Commons was sometimes thwarted by the Lords — a frustration he cited when justifying his appointments. Political peerages also shape the country's leadership pipeline: Khan, once in the Lords, could serve as a minister without needing a Commons seat. Burnham, who succeeded Starmer as Labour leader on 17 July 2026, became prime minister after first being elected as an MP — a reminder that the Commons remains the route to Number 10, while the Lords often serves as a finishing line or a springboard for senior figures.
Q: How does someone become a peer? The prime minister nominates individuals, usually after consultation with party leaders or an independent commission. The monarch formally appoints them. Most peers are life peers, meaning the title ends with them. Hereditary peerages still exist but are largely phased out.
Q: Can a peer become prime minister? Technically, anyone can be prime minister, but the modern convention is that the PM sits in the Commons. The last PM from the Lords was the Marquess of Salisbury, who left office in 1902. Lords can serve as ministers, as Peter Mandelson did, but not as PM.
Q: Why are peerages criticised? Critics say they let prime ministers reward cronies and bypass democratic scrutiny. Starmer had 66 appointments in two years; earlier, Boris Johnson's resignation honours were condemned. Supporters argue they bring expertise into parliament and can rebalance party representation.
What happens next? Burnham, now Labour leader and prime minister, will name his cabinet. Khan's peerage is confirmed, but he has not announced whether he will seek a fourth term as London mayor in 2028. The debate over Lords reform is likely to continue, especially as new appointments fuel concerns about the chamber's size and partisan nature.
