Sadiq Khan
The son of a bus driver who broke barriers to become London's first Muslim mayor, championing a progressive, global city.
Born 1970 (age 56)·Mayor of London since 2016·Birthday: October 8·Generation X
Biography
Sadiq Khan’s story is a distinctly London one. Born in Tooting to Pakistani immigrant parents—his father was a bus driver—he practiced human rights law before entering politics. Elected as the Labour MP for Tooting in 2005, he served in government as Minister of State for Transport. In 2016, he made history by winning the London mayoralty, becoming the first Muslim to lead a major Western capital. His tenure has been defined by ambitious, often contentious, policies aimed at reshaping the city. He expanded the Ultra Low Emission Zone to combat air pollution, oversaw a massive increase in cycling infrastructure, and made housing affordability a central plank of his agenda. Navigating the complexities of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan has positioned himself as a staunch defender of London's multicultural identity and its status as an open, international hub, frequently clashing with national Conservative governments in the process.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sadiq was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sadiq Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Sadiq's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected as the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital city in 2016.
- Successfully implemented the expansive Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to tackle London's air pollution crisis.
- Oversaw a record-breaking increase in cycling infrastructure and bike hire usage during his mayoralty.
Did You Know?
He was a talented amateur boxer in his youth and has spoken about the discipline it taught him.
Before politics, as a lawyer, he once represented Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam in a case against the UK government.
He is a lifelong fan of Liverpool Football Club.
“I am the living proof that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you can succeed.”
