Sir James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet to prepare a campaign to be Mayor of London, saying the capital requires “a champion” who understands its potential and will fight for its future.
Frontbench exit to focus on City Hall
The Braintree MP, who has held the shadow housing, communities and local government brief since last July, told Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch he would step down to concentrate fully on a mayoral run in May 2028.
“Serving there has been a privilege, and I know there will continue to be strong voices around that table,” he wrote in an op-ed. “But to run the most effective campaign possible, I must be free to speak about every aspect of London’s future and concentrate fully on winning this race.”
His announcement ends months of speculation about whether a senior Tory figure would contest City Hall against the incumbent Labour mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, who is midway through his third term and has not yet said whether he will stand again.
What Cleverly brings to the contest
Cleverly is a higher-profile Conservative name than recent candidates for City Hall and brings Cabinet experience to a race where the party has struggled to field household figures in the capital. He has served in several senior roles at national level, giving him national recognition that Conservative strategists will hope translates into traction with London voters.
Local residents I spoke to in a south London market said they recognised his name but were undecided about how that would translate into votes.
- "He seems like a competent politician, but what does he stand for on transport and housing?" said one commuter at Canada Water.
- Another passer-by in Hammersmith said: "We need someone who understands London — not just national slogans."
Record and responsibilities
Cleverly has held a string of senior government posts. Below is a summary of the positions identified in his public record:
| Role | Context |
|---|---|
| Shadow housing, communities and local government | Held since last July (on the Conservative frontbench) |
| Foreign Secretary | Served in government (previous cabinet post) |
| Home Secretary | Served in government |
| Education Secretary | Held a cabinet brief during 2022 |
| Member of Parliament | Braintree MP |
Conservative nomination and wider contest
Cleverly must still secure the Conservative nomination before he can be formally selected as the party’s candidate for City Hall. The selection process will determine whether the party rallies around a single high-profile contender or if the contest becomes a protracted internal battle.
For Labour, the announcement is likely to prompt fresh scrutiny of whether Sir Sadiq Khan will seek a fourth term. If Khan stands, the race could pit a well-known incumbent with deep local roots against a nationally recognised Tory figure seeking to recast himself as London’s advocate.
Local issues likely to shape the campaign
Any mayoral contest in London will hinge on day-to-day concerns: transport fares and reliability, policing and safety on the streets, the cost and availability of housing, and the health of the capital’s economy. Cleverly’s decision to step down from the frontbench signals an intention to make detailed policy commitments on those fronts without the limitations of a shadow ministerial brief.
Campaigning in London also demands a borough-by-borough approach. Sources within local Conservative associations say they expect a targeted effort in key outer London areas where the party has historic strength, while acknowledging the uphill task of peeling back Labour majorities in inner-city wards.
Reaction and next steps
Within the Conservative Party, reactions were muted publicly as colleagues awaited formal steps in the selection process. On the streets of the capital, voters were keen to hear specifics.
“We’ll need to see detailed plans, not just a change of job title,” said a small business owner near Tottenham Court Road. “If he’s serious about being a mayoral candidate, he should talk about the things that affect us every day.”
Cleverly’s resignation from the shadow cabinet removes a senior figure from Kemi Badenoch’s frontbench team but marks the start of what will be a closely watched contest for control of City Hall in May 2028.
