Sadiq Khan offered a 3.9% pay rise.

Khan’s annual salary increase was not tied to his re-election to a third term, reports Noah Vickers, reporter for Local Democracy

Sadiq Khan has defended a recent pay rise, saying it was decided in line with independent recommendations.

It emerged on Friday (10) that the Mayor of London’s pay rose by just over £6,000 to £160,976, while at least eight of his nine deputy mayors, chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and three mayor directors also received large salary increases.

Asked if he was comfortable with the pay rise at a difficult time for many Londoners, the mayor said: “I understand that these are decisions recommended by independent bodies and affect the whole of the GLA (Greater London Authority).

“As always, we respect all independent recommendations.”

Khan’s annual salary increase was not linked to his re-election for a third term last Saturday. His salary rose by 3.88% in December, from £154,963 to £160,976 – although this was not publicized at the time, nor has the mayor’s salary figure, which is published on the GLA website, been updated .

According to the GLA website, pay rises for elected members are set within an agreed framework following a review by the independent Senior Pay Review Body.

Khan voluntarily took a 10% pay cut for eleven months during the pandemic in recognition of the impact the lockdown was having on City Hall’s finances.

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Last month, a 4.5% pay rise across the whole of the GLA saw most deputy mayor salaries rise by more than £6,000, from £141,406 to £147,769.

A GLA spokesman said the increase was accepted by Unison on behalf of GLA staff after being offered by Mary Harpley, the GLA’s chief officer. Khan approved the same raise for his deputy mayors.

A separate human resources review found that Khan’s three mayoral directors deserved equal pay to deputy mayors. They now each earn £147,769.

Khan is reducing the number of deputy mayors from 10 to nine in his third term as the deputy mayor for the fire station is merged with planning and regeneration, with Jules Pipe responsible for all three areas.

Baroness Twycross, who was deputy mayor for the fire, is also standing down to focus on her work in the House of Lords.

Amy Lame, the night czar who faced criticism from the hospitality industry, now earns £132,846. Her last publicly available salary figure was £116,925. Lame is not a direct “mayor appointee” – the mayor can make up to 13 “policy” appointments – but is classified as a GLA staff member.

Joanne McCartney, the Labor London assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, remains Khan’s “statutory” deputy mayor, meaning she takes over if he is incapacitated.

David Bellamy, the mayor’s chief of staff, saw his salary rise from £149,213 to £155,927. Richard Watts, deputy chief of staff, saw his salary rise from £145,310 to £151,848.

Meanwhile, the search is on for a new deputy mayor for the environment to replace Shirley Rodrigues, who is joining the C40 group of global cities committed to combating climate change.

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