Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly has officially resigned from his position as shadow housing secretary, announcing his intention to run for mayor of London. The former foreign secretary, who served under three different prime ministers including Rishi Sunak, confirmed he has informed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of his decision to step down from the shadow cabinet.
He stated that his departure is necessary to focus fully on the mayoral race and to speak freely regarding the future of the capital.
Writing in the Times, Sir James criticized the current state of London under Labour leadership, noting that current London Mayor Sir Sadiq began his first term in 2016 and arguing that the capital has been "let down by Labour".
He argued that the city requires more than just an administrator and expressed a desire to restore its reputation as a premier destination for living, working, and investing.
He specifically targeted Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accusing the Labour government of treating the capital as a “cash cow” to be taxed and regulated rather than nurtured. According to Sir James, Londoners are currently struggling with housing affordability and excessive business costs.
The next mayoral election is not scheduled until May 2028, and it remains unclear whether the incumbent, Labour’s Sir Sadiq Khan, will seek a fourth term. While the Conservatives have yet to select their official candidate, a source close to Kemi Badenoch noted that while she did not want Sir James to leave the shadow cabinet, she believes he will be a significant asset in the London campaign.
A source described him as a “formidable politician” capable of out-campaigning Sir Sadiq Khan.
Sir James, an army reservist and former MP for Braintree since 2015, previously served as home secretary and education secretary. His history in London politics includes time on the London Assembly, where he chaired the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and worked for Boris Johnson during his tenure as mayor.
In 2024, Sir James unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party, a contest won by Kemi Badenoch.
The electoral landscape remains competitive, as seen in the May 2024 results where Sir Sadiq Khan defeated Conservative rival Susan Hall by more than 275,000 votes – representing a swing of 3.2% to Labour. Reform UK has already named Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham as their candidate for the 2028 election.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage commented on the announcement by suggesting the Conservatives are “done for” and claimed Sir James would not be the first Tory MP to abandon hope of winning their seat in Essex.
His announcement follows speculation in recent weeks that he would step down and launch a bid to become London's next mayor.
Burnham's summer tour is over – now he has to prove himself in Parliament
