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Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has accepted a £5,281 pay rise, bringing his annual salary to £170,282 and making him the highest-paid politician in a government role across the UK. The increase, a 3.23% rise, puts his earnings ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who earns £169,344.
The news has ignited a debate about value for money and public spending, especially as the number of staff at City Hall continues to grow. The Mayor's pay increase is linked to the local government settlement awarded to town hall staff nationwide and was reportedly recommended by an independent panel.
The salary comparison with the Prime Minister is based on the fact that while Sir Keir Starmer is entitled to a full ministerial allowance that would technically put his salary above the Mayor's, he has not taken the full amount.
The pay rise comes amid a significant expansion of City Hall's workforce. The number of staff has increased by 9% in the last year, reaching a record 1,615 people, which includes 90 agency workers. This is a substantial jump from the approximately 1,100 people employed just before the Covid pandemic.
The soaring headcount has drawn criticism from political opponents. Emma Best, deputy leader of the City Hall Conservatives, slammed the expansion, stating that "the concept of value for money is alien in Khan's City Hall." She contrasted the staff increase with cuts to public services, such as the slashing of police stations open to the public, arguing that the millions spent on the expanded workforce could be better invested in frontline services.
The Mayor's office has not yet commented publicly on the latest pay increase. The new salary figure was reportedly published quietly on the Greater London Authority website as part of his official biography and job specification.
The revelations about Khan's salary and the growing City Hall workforce emerge as the Mayor has been active on other fronts. He recently launched a broadside against US President Donald Trump ahead of his state visit, attributing a "record number" of American citizenship applications to London's "liberal values." Khan also continues to face criticism for his £1 billion ULEZ scheme. In addition, Transport for London (TfL), which falls under the Mayor's purview, has recently faced widespread criticism after it was revealed that 2,200 staff earned £100,000 or more, and has been dealing with tube strikes from the RMT demanding a shorter working week.
