London Mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a stark warning to voters considering backing the Green Party in protest during the imminent local elections, emphasising that "public office isn't about protest, it's about service." The Labour mayor made these remarks while simultaneously dismissing swirling rumours about a potential move to join Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Cabinet.
Khan Rejects Cabinet Speculation with Humour
Reports emerged last month suggesting that Prime Minister Starmer was planning to offer Sir Sadiq a peerage and a ministerial position in a government reset following anticipated electoral setbacks. However, Khan batted away these claims with characteristic wit, joking that the only job he would currently accept would be from Liverpool Football Club's manager Arne Slot.
"Listen, I think the only job I'd accept right now is if Arne Slot said to me: 'Sadiq, I need you, because we're having a rubbish season, I need you to take on PSG, and then help us call it for the Champions League,'" Khan told The Mirror. "That's the only job I'd consider taking other than the mayor."
When pressed specifically about whether he would consider accepting a peerage, Khan responded: "Nobody's offered one to me. When he offers one to me, I'll get back to you."
Electoral Challenges and Protest Vote Concerns
The mayor's comments come amid significant concerns for Labour ahead of May's crucial local elections, where experts warn the party could lose "well over" 1,000 councillors. All 32 London boroughs are up for election, and while Labour currently dominates the capital, the vote risks splintering across multiple parties.
Khan acknowledged that Londoners are considering voting for all five major parties: Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Reform. Regarding Labour voters potentially choosing the Green Party as a protest, he expressed understanding but urged reconsideration.
"Of course I can understand why people may lend their vote to somebody else," Khan said. "All I would say, in a respectful way is, public office isn't about protest, it's about service."
He continued: "So all I'd say, in a respectful way to Londoners flirting with protest is actually, look at the record of the last 20 months compared to the previous 14 years. Will you get more delivery locally with a council that believes in protest, or one that works with a Labour mayor and a Labour government?"
Defending Labour's Record and Leadership
The mayor admitted that local elections present particular challenges for a party in national government, noting that voters who supported change in last July's general election haven't seen transformation occur as rapidly as hoped.
"It's particularly hard because there's a Labour government and so people who voted for change last July haven't seen that change coming as quickly as they'd have hoped," Khan explained. "But it's difficult to turn around 14 years of austerity in 21 months. And so all I'd say to Londoners, in a respectful way, is, bear with us."
Khan strongly backed Prime Minister Starmer, who has faced recent leadership challenges, describing the UK as existing in a "sea of calm" compared to global turmoil in regions like Ukraine and Iran.
"I think the British public did vote for a Labour government by Keir Starmer. He has got a mandate... I'm somebody who believes in strong leadership, leadership that's defined by values and what's right for the country," Khan stated. "And I think the fact that Keir is today in the Middle East supporting our allies, but also seeing if we can have a sustainable ceasefire, speaks volumes for the sort of the leader he is."
Expert Analysis and Polling Context
Dr Lizzie Simon from the University of Exeter provided concerning context for Labour, noting that combined support for the Greens, Liberal Democrats, and Reform has increased from 51% to 55% in Politico's Poll of Polls since just before the 2025 local elections. During the same period, support for the two major parties has declined from 42% to 34%.
"These figures come from national vote intention polls, and so don't necessarily provide an accurate representation of how the public will vote at local elections, which are a slightly different beast," Dr Simon cautioned. "Largely because people more often use their vote at local contests to 'protest' or express their dissatisfaction with the sitting government than they will at national contests. This will be worrying news for the Labour Party."
Khan concluded by urging voters to focus on local council track records rather than using the elections as a referendum on national government imperfections, framing the choice as between protest and practical service delivery.
