A petition opposing a potential knighthood for London Mayor Sadiq Khan has surpassed its 50,000-signature target within just 48 hours of launching.
The campaign emerged after the Financial Times reported that Khan’s name appears on a draft New Year’s Honours list alongside former West Midlands mayor Andy Street, ex-schools minister Nick Gibb, and former environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena.
The Change.org petition, which has gathered over 60,000 signatures at the time of writing, was initiated by Conservative councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman from the London Borough of Harrow.
He told GB News yesterday: “I’m sorry, he’s not a knighted mayor. He’s just a nightmare.”
He added: “You run through his track record as mayor, you realise why he doesn’t deserve this.
“The Mayor of London is also the Police and Crime Commissioner for London. So under his watch, violent crime with injury has gone up five per cent, gun crime has gone up 30 per cent, knife crime has gone up 13 per cent, robbery has gone up 10 per cent.
A petition demanding a rethink of a knighthood for Sadiq Khan has soared past 60,000 signatures
PA
“So on crime, Sadiq Khan has failed. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s also the Chair of Transport for London. That’s another role of the Mayor of London.
“He promised us zero days of strikes. And guess what? He’s had 140 days more than the previous two mayors combined. So there he’s failed again.”
The Conservative councillor has insisted his opposition to the knighthood is not politically motivated, telling the Daily Express: “This is not about party politics. I would happily do another petition against a politician from another party who had a similar track record.”
The petition argues that knighthoods should be reserved for citizens who have contributed significantly to their communities.
Sadiq Khan is set for a knighthood in the New Year honours list
PA
The councillor claimed London’s transport system was failing, with more strikes occurring under Khan than during Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone’s tenures combined.
He also challenged the mayor’s Ulez policy, suggesting it was financially motivated rather than environmental.
The councillor pointed to Metropolitan Police figures showing rising violent crimes under Khan’s leadership, while disputing City Hall’s claims about reduced air pollution.
Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK and former London Mayoral Candidate for Reform UK, condemned the potential honour, stating: “Giving Mayor Khan such a prestigious award diminishes its credibility and demeans those who deserve or already have such royal recognition.”
The Mayor of London’s office has declined to comment on the speculation, as has the Government.
Petition supporters have voiced strong opposition on Change.org, with one signatory claiming the Ulez scheme is “a complete farce.”
Another wrote: “Sadiq Khan does not deserve a knighthood.
“He is not for Britain or for London. He is against Britain and our people so no, no, no.”
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