Full story
Cleverly launches mayor bid
Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly resigned from Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet to run for London mayor, saying he is putting himself forward as the Conservative candidate because “our capital needs more than an administrator.”
“our capital needs more than an administrator”
Cleverly said he had told Tory leader Kemi Badenoch he was stepping down as shadow housing secretary so he could “concentrate fully on winning this race.”
The BBC said London is not set to vote on a new mayor until May 2028, with Labour incumbent Sir Sadiq Khan yet to confirm whether he will seek an unprecedented fourth term.
The BBC also said Cleverly, who was foreign secretary under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, wrote that he intended to make London a city to be proud of again and accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of treating London as a “cash cow: somewhere to tax, regulate, raid and blame.”
Party reactions and polling
A source close to Badenoch told the BBC that Cleverly “is a formidable politician and will out-campaign Khan,” while also saying Badenoch “really didn’t want James to leave shadow cabinet.”
The Guardian reported that Cleverly told the Sunday Times, “She took it very well. Kemi has been very gracious,” after breaking the news to Badenoch.
The BBC said the last time Londoners voted for their mayor in May 2024, Sir Sadiq beat Conservative rival Susan Hall by more than 275,000 votes, representing a swing of 3.2% to Labour.
The Guardian added that Susan Hall was the Tory candidate in 2024 but lost to Khan, who was declared the winner with 43.8% of the vote.
Inside Croydon said polling conducted this month placed the Tories in third place in London, with Labour on 33%, Reform Ltd on 20%, the Conservatives on 18%, the Greens on 14% and LibDems 10%.
What’s at stake in 2028
The BBC said the Conservatives are yet to pick their candidate for the London mayoral race, while Reform UK revealed its candidate for the May 2028 election in January when it announced Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham would be standing.
“scheduled to be held in on 4 May 2028”
The BBC reported that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on social media that the Conservatives are “done for,” and said Cleverly “will not be the first Tory MP to give up any hope of winning their seat in Essex.”
The Guardian said Cleverly’s resignation comes in advance of the Conservative party conference in October, where he is expected to make his case to party members.
The Guardian also reported that if Khan does step down, Labour MP Dawn Butler is expected to throw her hat in the ring, and that Cleverly accused Khan of using the role as a stepping stone for a higher-profile position.
Sky News said the next mayoral election is scheduled to be held on 4 May 2028, as it described Cleverly stepping down from the shadow cabinet to stand for London mayor.