A petition has been set up to block Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, getting a knighthood (Image: Getty)
A petition against a possible knighthood for Sadiq Khan has smashed its target of 50,000 signatories within 48 hours of it being launched.
The Labour Mayor of London's name appears on a draft list for inclusion in the New Year's Honours, according to the Financial Times.
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Mr Khan appears along with former West Midlands mayor, Andy Street, ex-schools minister, Nick Gibb, and Ranil Jayawardena, who was Liz Truss's environment secretary when she was prime minister.
At the time of writing, the Change.org petition calling to stop the knighthood of Mr Khan had passed its initial 50,000 target, gaining over almost 52,000 signatures.
The petition was started by Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, a Conservative councillor for the London Borough of Harrow who claims Mr Khan's period in office has "devastated" London.
He told Express.co.uk: "We're about to hit 52,000. It's pretty extraordinary and I think it just goes to show the discontent that is out there about Sadiq Khan."
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Sadiq Khan's name reportedly appears on a draft list for inclusion in the New Year's Honours (Image: Getty)
Mr Goodwin-Freeman added: "This is not about party politics. I would happily do another petition against a politician from another party who had a similar track record. We should not be rewarding failure. I can't see where things are better in London as a result of Sadiq Khan that would earn him a knighthood."
The councillor announced the petition on TikTok, telling followers: "This isn't a joke. This is real. Keir Starmer has - well it's been leaked - his New Year's honours list and Sadiq Khan is gonna become Sir Sadiq. I mean, it makes me sick.
"This is the mayor who has destroyed the greatest city in our country. He has destroyed everything that it means to be British and care about our great city."
He claimed London's trains don't run on time and that a "divisive" Mayor Khan has seen more strikes than former mayors Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone combined.
The councillor went on to claim the Mayor of London set up the city's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to make money and not to tackle the capital's toxic air.
Mr Goodwin-Freeman pointed to Metropolitan Police figures which he said showed violent crimes rising under Mr Khan's tenure and he argued City Hall estimates showing toxic air particles had dropped almost 20% were largely down to ULEZ's impact on inner London.
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*CORRECTION* 45,000 signatures ？？ https://t.co/eVo4IeYu8s
— Cllr. Matthew Goodwin-Freeman (@MGoodwinFreeman) December 7, 2024
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On how Mr Khan can be described as "divisive", the local politician pointed in part to comments the mayor made during a public meeting in Ealing during which Mr Goodwin-Freeman said he wrongly labelled opponents of ULEZ's expansion as far right climate deniers.
Urging people to sign the petition, Mr Goodwin-Freeman said on TikTok: "Do you really want Sir Sadiq prowling around our great city? This used to be Great Britain. This used to be a great city. London - the heart of the world. He's destroyed it."
The petition states: "A knighthood is an honour reserved for citizens who've contributed significantly to their communities or professions.
"It's a recognition of service that deserves the utmost respect, and as such, should not be bestowed on Sadiq Khan, who has failed to uphold his duty to our city and its inhabitants."
Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK and former London Mayoral Candidate for Reform UK, told Express.co.uk: "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 declined to comment on speculation, while a Government spokesperson said: "We do not comment on speculation on honours."
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Petition signatories listed as top supporters joined the online objections, with one commenting on Change.org: "I can't believe it myself.
"We're being robbed left, right and centre. Our vehicles getting taken away all because of BS nonsense. ULEZ is a complete farce."
The unnamed man added the "fact" Mr Khan is getting knighted meant it is time for King Charles "to press the nuclear button" and get rid "of all these idiots".
Another signatory said: "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."
While some have voiced opposition to a knighthood, others, including the Evening Standard's Ross Lydall, have argued in favour.
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In an op-ed in the same publication, Mr Lydall describes Mr Khan as conscientious, adding: "He's always done his homework, mastered his brief, knows exactly what he wants to say."
The mayor is a "fine ambassador" for London and the multicultural city it has become, according to the writer, who admits questions remain over Mr Khan's "failure" to keep on top of Crossrail's budget and late opening as well as his oversight of Scotland Yard.
But Mr Khan is praised for putting more police on London's streets, expanding ULEZ, refusing to cut Transport for London services and providing free school dinners for all primary school pupils.