Sir Sadiq Khan has just received a pay rise, reportedly making him the highest-paid politician in the UK. The London mayor is now believed to earn £1,000 more than Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after his £5,000 boost, which took his annual earnings to £170,282, the Standard reports.
It is bound to stir controversy among Londoners, with thousands having opposed Sir Sadiq Khan’s knighthood. A petition to prevent the honour said a “once thriving” London had become “divided and stagnant” under his watch. It also comes as the number of City Hall staff has reached a record high, which Emma Best, deputy leader of the City Hall Conservatives, said Londoners would be infuriated to learn of at a time when police stations are being closed down.
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According to the House of Commons Library, the Prime Minister earns around £1,000 less, at £169,344 annually, made up of £93,904 for his MP salary and the £75,440 he accepts as a ministerial salary.
Sir Keir could actually be entitled to earn more than the mayor, but the figures show he does not claim the full ministerial allowance of £80,807.
Sir Sadiq’s 3.23% salary increase was linked to the town hall staff pay rises across the country.
The number of staff at City Hall has also increased to a record 1,615 people in the last year, including 90 agency workers, which is up from about 1,100 people just before the pandemic.
Ms Best condemned the number of workers, saying: “The concept of value for money is alien in Khan’s City Hall as he continues his out-of-control expansion.”
“We have continued to argue for a reduced headcount at the GLA to save millions that could be invested into frontline services; these figures today remind us exactly why we argue for this and why London so desperately needs change.”
Sir Sadiq has been the mayor of London for three terms, however, while many support the Labour leader, he has had his fair share of criticism.
When he was granted a knighthood, a petition at the time read: “We’ve seen Khan continuously deflect responsibility and accountability, blaming everybody but himself. Our beloved city is in an expensive paralysis, consistently interrupted by strikes.”
It cited London’s crime rate, in particular knife crime, and the cost of living, including soaring rental costs and transport hikes.
It added: “This has left many Londoners in challenging living conditions, unable to afford the city they’ve called home for years.”
More than 220,000 people gave their signatures to try to prevent the knighthood; however, the ceremony went ahead earlier this year.