London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said his children believe he has ‘sold out’ by accepting a Knighthood and becoming ‘part of the establishment’.
Sir Sadiq was awarded the gong in the New Year Honours list – but has come in for serious criticism from his political adversaries as a consequence.
And it appears like the backlash also extends to Khan’s own daughters Anisah and Ammarah, as well as some of his nieces and nephews.
The three-term mayor said it was ‘a huge honour’ to receive the title but has joked his nomination received a mixed reaction.
While Sir Sadiq said his mum is ‘chuffed to bits’ at his knighting, the 54-year-old said his two children have accused him of becoming ‘part of the establishment’.
Speaking on the Comfort Eating podcast, he said: ‘I’m not going to pretend it’s not lovely; it’s a huge honour. My mum is chuffed to bits (but) my kids think it’s a joke.
‘They think I’ve sold out – that I’m part of the establishment – all that sort of stuff. My nephews and nieces think I’m elite.’
But the Tooting-born politician has encountered real criticism from fellow politicians with Conservatives branding his inclusion on the Honours List a ‘reward for failure’.
Following the announcement of Khan’s knighthood, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the nomination showed ‘once again that for Labour it is Party first, country second’.
He said: ‘Under Sadiq Khan, Londoners have faced a 61 percent increase in knife crime, a housing crisis and a 70 percent 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.’
Meanwhile, Bob Blackman, the Tory MP for Harrow East and chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: ‘This is an absolute reward for failure.
‘He is a disaster in London. If you look at every single target he’s set himself – on housing, on crime – he’s missed them every time. He is a total failure, which is clearly a position he has in common with the Government.’
Earlier this month, suggestions that Sir Sadiq was set for a knighthood prompted a Change.org petition saying it should be blocked.
Tory London councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman started the petition, which drew more than 200,000 signatures.
He told the Mail: ‘To see Sadiq Khan be given a knighthood is a kick in the teeth for millions of Londoners.
‘He refuses to take responsibility for his failures and shows no remorse or accountability.
‘His track record of failure makes his knighthood even more confusing: crime is up, police in special measures, fire brigade in special measures, his share of council tax is up, the number of days of strikes is up, robberies are up… He’s a nightmare, not a knighted Mayor.’
This knighthood was so less deserved. This is an honoured failure!
The Mayor also said publicly that he didn’t feel safe in London – a metropolis where he is the Mayor, and which has seen a 50 percent increase in knife offences. This is a knighthood for failure, and it’s utterly despicable.
I am also certain that some British people also believe we’ve been ‘sold out’. This knighthood should never have been authorised, and if this gentleman had any integrity at all he should have refused it because I can’t think of one positive thing he’s done for London.
The only words this man does know are tax, congestion charges and ULEZ.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 