Politicians in London are discussing Sadiq Khan’s new pay. He is now the highest-paid elected politician in Britain, receiving £170,282 a year after accepting a £5,281 wage increase. The amount puts him above the prime minister’s salary, which is approximately £167,391, and it sparks passionate debates among London taxpayers regarding justice, value, and performance accountability.
Khan’s political ascent has been incredibly successful, representing both aspiration and tenacity. He was paid about £143,911 when he first took office as Mayor in 2016. His income has risen by £26,371 over the past nine years, almost matching the London Living Wage. Critics point out that although public employees’ pay scales are frozen, the top executives at City Hall continue to rise.
Sadiq Khan — Profile Overview
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sir Sadiq Aman Khan |
| Date of Birth | October 8, 1970 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Politician, Mayor of London |
| First Elected | 2016 |
| Current Term | Third term (elected 2024) |
| Current Annual Salary | £170,282 |
| Salary Increase (2025) | £5,281 (3.2% rise) |
| Political Party | Labour Party |
| Office Expense (Team & Deputies) | £2 million annually |
| Official Reference |
Under Khan, City Hall’s yearly payroll has increased significantly. His leadership staff now costs more than £2 million annually, with nine deputy mayors and six senior aides. For comparison, such amount is roughly equivalent to 232,282 daily Tube fares in Zones 1–3 or 193,437 ULEZ fees—numbers that demonstrate the magnitude of public spending on his government. Both opposition leaders and regular Londoners frequently ask: is that money very effective at producing significant outcomes for the capital?
In the face of a pandemic, Brexit transitions, and financial strain on Transport for London (TfL), Khan’s supporters highlight his extraordinarily adaptable leadership. They point out that his salary is in line with public sector standards after the Greater London Authority conducted an independent review and implemented a 3.2% increase in line with local government pay settlements. In this regard, City Hall distanced the increase from political discretion by characterizing it as “impartial, fair, and process-based.”
However, the optics are still controversial. The high crime rates, housing shortages, and ongoing transport strikes continue to draw harsh criticism for the Labour mayor. Khan saw decreases in several categories, such as personal theft and home burglary, between April 2024 and June 2025. A more nuanced picture is presented by the notable rise in other crimes, such as drug trafficking, rape, and gun possession. The Office for National Statistics reports that since 2015, the year Khan assumed office, violent crime in London has increased by 40%.
Debates over public safety are entwined with mounting dissatisfaction about TfL’s labour issues. Khan made the unfulfilled pledge to “reduce days lost to strike action” during his first campaign. He has overseen 151 days of transport strikes so far, which is almost four times as many as were seen during Boris Johnson’s administration. Significant wage concessions were required to end several of these stoppages, further taxing TfL’s already precarious budget.
His predecessors performed far better in comparison. During his tenure as mayor, Johnson had 35 strike days, compared to 16 for Ken Livingstone. Khan previously called the Johnson-led strikes “a sign of failure.” Now, observers wonder what classification he would give his own record. Ironically, a promise that was once used as a political weapon now casts a shadow over his administration.
In addition to transportation and crime, Khan’s detractors have drawn attention to the growing disparity between average London wages and top earnings at City Hall. His deputy mayors, many of whom make more than £150,000 a year, contribute to the perception of excess. This salary gap stands in sharp contrast to the challenges frontline workers face from the cost of living. “If Sadiq were on performance-related pay, he would owe Londoners a fortune,” said Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for the 2024 election.
However, Khan’s supporters insist that elite leadership and commensurate pay are necessary to run a city with almost nine million inhabitants. The mayor is in charge of a £4.9 billion capital investment plan and an operational budget of £15.5 billion, which finance vital services including transportation infrastructure and law enforcement. Representatives from City Hall contend that such leadership necessitates stability and accountability, a balance that invariably comes at a cost.
This system, which emphasizes that local government leaders should be paid commensurate with their tasks, is frequently characterized by economists as being very innovative. Comparable leadership positions in places like New York or Paris frequently pay more than £200,000 a year. From that perspective, Khan’s salary is in line with global standards. The expectations of Londoners, however, are different; high incomes attract more scrutiny, particularly when common problems like affordability, crime, and strikes are not addressed.
Khan’s journey’s personal symbolism should also be taken into account. Khan, who was raised on a council estate and is frequently referred to as a “London success,” is the son of a Pakistani bus driver and a seamstress. His career trajectory—from human rights attorney to Tooting MP to mayor—has greatly inspired many. His public persona now revolves around this story of social mobility, but his increasing income runs the risk of redefining that achievement as a disengagement from the hardships faced by many Londoners.
Khan has defended his performance in recent interviews, highlighting the long-term societal benefits of his administration’s emphasis on housing programs, green initiatives, and inclusion. His office emphasizes that pay adjustments were decided upon on their own, without direct negotiation. In a well-crafted statement, City Hall reiterated that the pay increase “ensures consistency” among local government agencies and was consistent with larger accords for public sector employees.
The optics, however, are hard to overlook. The perception of his pay has been influenced by a number of factors, including the housing affordability issue, growing crime rates, and problems with public transport in London. Some praise his remarkably resilient crisis management, while others wonder if his administration has made enough progress.