London's left-wing mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been knighted despite his limited achievements and failure to tackle crime.
He will be included in Chancellor Keir Starmer's 2024 New Year Honors list, making the left-wing mayor's name 'Sir Sadiq' the first to be so honored by the recently installed leader.
Khan commented on his promotion. said He said: “I am truly humbled to have been knighted in the King's New Year Honours.”
“Growing up on a council estate in south London, I never dreamed that I would one day become Mayor of London. It is the honor of my life to be able to contribute to the city I love,” he added.
Khan, who succeeded Boris Johnson as London's mayor in 2016, is the longest-serving mayor since the position was created in 2000. He has frequently been criticized for focusing on woke social issues while crime rates have increased under his administration. clock.
This trend continued last year, with knife crime increasing by 20% to 14,626, nearly 2,500 more than the year before, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. reported.
Mr. Khan is perhaps best known for his public feud with President-elect Donald Trump, who previously accused the US leader of using “xenophobia, racism, and 'otherness' as election tactics.” He accused the government of using the government's policy and called for the cancellation of state visits. In response, President Trump famously branded Khan a “ruthless loser.”
The decision to knight Khan has been controversial since it was first rumored. A petition launched earlier this month against the idea has garnered more than 200,000 signatures.
organizer said: “Knighthood is an honor bestowed upon members of the public who have made a significant contribution to their community or profession. It is a recognition of service that deserves the highest honour, and as such, it is a recognition of service that deserves the highest degree of honour. should not have been awarded to Sadiq Khan.
“We urge the relevant authorities not to knight Sadiq Khan. It is time we hold our leaders to account.”
Conservative MP Bob Blackmun joined the chorus of critics opposing the move, telling the Daily Mail it amounted to “rewarding failure”.
“He's a disaster in London. If you look at all the targets he's set for himself, whether it's housing or crime, he's missed them every time. He's a total failure and this is clearly against him. “This is a common position with the government,” the lawmaker added.
