Tory criticism of knighthood not the last I will receive, Sir Sadiq Khan says

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of ‘rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan’.

By contributor By Will Durrant, PA Political Staff
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Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan speaks to journalists
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said his mother was ‘chuffed’ with his honour (Lucy North/PA)

Sir Sadiq Khan has said criticism of his knighthood is not the last he will receive from the Conservatives “unless they’ve done a new year’s resolution”.

Asked about his new title, the Mayor of London said “you can achieve anything” in the city, where “if you work hard, there’s a helping hand”.

The Labour politician drew criticism from several Conservatives, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of “rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan”.

A Change.org petition titled “Stop the Knighthood of Sadiq Khan” has received more than 212,200 signatures throughout December.

Sir Sadiq told the PA news agency: “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.