Burnley mayor becomes youngest ever House of Lords opposition peer

By Tim Aldred

05 Jan 2021

Wajid Khan has become the youngest ever opposition peer in the House of Lords after he was nominated by Sir Keir Starmer.

The 41-year-old is a local councillor for Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward in Burnley and is also the town's youngest ever mayor. He served as an MEP for the North West from 2017 to 2019. While in the European Parliament, he was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Human Rights Subcommittee.

Wajid is also a senior lecturer and course leader for the MA in Community Leadership Programme at the University of Central Lancashire, co-authoring both the undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

He holds a particular interest in empowering South Asian female mature students to re-engage in Higher Education and who was awarded the Sitara-i-Qaide Azam Award by the president of Pakistan for his work on International Human Rights. He is also a fellow of the prestigious Higher Education Academy.

Wajid said: "This is the greatest honour. It's not something I had even considered but to be put forward as a life peer and to serve in the House of Lords is the pinnacle of my long and varied political career.

"Not only is it a personal honour, but it's also a testament to the support I have had from my family and from the residents of Burnley. This is a very proud day for me. I plan to continue my fight to champion the causes closest to my heart - human rights, workers' rights, gender equality, and climate change."

He added: "I still hold fast to my firm belief that the House of Lords should be an elected chamber but I'm a political 'animal' and, as such, I think it's right that I should accept this honour and continue my fight from within, serving my local community and my country with energy and enthusiasm as I always have."

  • For further Lancashire business news, advice and analysis subscribe to Lancashire Business View or join the LBV Hub from just £2.50 per month. Click here to subscribe now.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge' Lancashire Net Zero Conference 2025

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge'

20 Jun 2025

2

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network EV electric vehicle Electricity NW

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network

20 Jun 2025

3

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards Winners Of The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 Held On Tues 11 Feb 2025

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards

19 Jun 2025

4

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy Ben Harrison

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy

19 Jun 2025

5

Plan to get Lancashire working Lancashire Combined Authority

Plan to get Lancashire working

19 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025
MMW.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, PR5 5XU

18:00 - 23:00

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin