James Cleverly resigns from shadow cabinet to run for London mayor
James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet with immediate effect to run for mayor of London, telling Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of his decision.
James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet to run for mayor of London, ending months of speculation about the former foreign secretary's political future. The Braintree MP, who also served as home secretary, told Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch he will leave her front bench with immediate effect.
Cleverly, who was shadow minister for housing, communities and local government, announced his decision in an interview with the Sunday Times. He said the capital needed «a champion, someone who understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future», framing his candidacy as a bid to restore Conservative fortunes in a city that has not elected a Tory mayor since 2008.
The resignation clears the way for Cleverly to enter the race for the Conservative nomination to challenge the incumbent Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, at the next London election. His move reshapes the contest, giving the party a heavyweight candidate with two senior cabinet roles on his CV and a national profile built during his time at the Foreign Office and the Home Office.
Cleverly's decision follows a turbulent period for the Conservative Party, which lost power at the last general election and has been rebuilding under Badenoch's leadership. His departure from the shadow cabinet removes a prominent figure from the party's parliamentary front bench, though it keeps him in public life as he seeks to lead the party's campaign in the capital.
The London mayoral race is expected to focus heavily on housing, transport, policing and the cost of living, issues that dominated Khan's tenure. Cleverly, who has represented Braintree in Essex since 2015, will need to overcome the challenge of being seen as an outsider to London politics, a hurdle that has tripped up previous Conservative candidates in the city.
His announcement drew immediate attention from political observers, who noted that his experience in high-profile national security and domestic policy roles could give him an edge in debates about crime and public services. However, the Conservatives face a significant electoral mountain in London, where Khan has won two decisive victories and Labour's support in the capital has remained robust in recent polling.
The party's selection process for its mayoral candidate is expected to begin shortly, with Cleverly now the most prominent declared contender. His resignation takes effect immediately, meaning the Conservative front bench will need to fill the housing, communities and local government brief in the coming days.
Cleverly's move is the latest chapter in a career that has seen him rise rapidly through the Conservative ranks, holding multiple cabinet positions before the party's defeat. His campaign for City Hall will test whether his blend of national experience and moderate rhetoric can translate into local electoral success in one of the UK's most politically competitive arenas.
