Former foreign secretary James Cleverly has resigned from the Conservative shadow cabinet to pursue his ambition of becoming London’s next mayor, announcing his candidacy with a pledge to run what he describes as a “classically Conservative” campaign.
The MP for Braintree, who served in some of the highest offices in government under Rishi Sunak’s administration, confirmed his intentions during a series of media interviews on Sunday. His decision marks a significant moment in Conservative politics as the party seeks to rebuild its position in the capital ahead of the 2028 mayoral election.
A Calculated Political Move
Cleverly’s resignation from the shadow cabinet comes after his unsuccessful bid to become Conservative leader, a contest ultimately won by Kemi Badenoch. However, he has rejected suggestions that his mayoral campaign represents a strategic stepping stone towards a future leadership attempt.
“I am going to put forward a classic Conservative case to be the mayor of London, and it’s about enterprise, it’s about opportunity,” Cleverly told Times Radio. “That is a classically Conservative vision, and it will run in parallel to and supportive of Kemi’s plans for the country as a whole.”
The former home secretary has positioned himself as a more moderate candidate compared to his predecessor Susan Hall, who suffered a heavy defeat to Labour’s Sadiq Khan in the 2024 mayoral contest. Hall faced significant controversy during her campaign, including criticism for suggesting there was a “problem with crime” in the black community and apologising for liking a tweet featuring a photograph of Enoch Powell. She ultimately secured 43.8 percent of the vote against Khan’s victory.
Giles Dilnot, editor of the grassroots Conservative website Conservative Home, who has worked closely with Cleverly, dismissed speculation about hidden leadership ambitions. “There is not a hidden side order of ‘what’s next’ here,” he stated, suggesting Cleverly’s mayoral bid was driven by genuine conviction rather than personal political calculation.
Navigating the New Political Landscape
Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics noted that changes to the electoral system would significantly influence Cleverly’s campaign strategy. The supplementary vote system, which allows voters to express a second preference when no candidate secures more than 50 percent, returns for the 2028 election.
“The last thing Cleverly would want to do is put off Liberal Democrats, whose party has been the main beneficiaries of the Conservatives’ shift to the right in the south of England,” Travers observed. “I think we are likely to see him adopt a pre-Brexit traditional, centrist Conservative position.”
This analysis suggests Cleverly may deliberately distance himself from some of the culture war issues championed by Badenoch’s leadership, instead emphasising economic credentials and business-friendly policies that have traditionally resonated across party lines in the capital.
During interviews, Cleverly notably sidestepped questions about cultural issues, focusing instead on his vision for enterprise and opportunity in London. His approach appears designed to appeal to voters who may have drifted towards the Liberal Democrats or remained unconvinced by the party’s recent direction.
Dilnot highlighted Cleverly’s 2024 leadership campaign speech, in which he called for the Conservative Party to be “more normal”. “Mayoral campaigns are often focused on the person – the personality is that extra 10 percent rather than just the rosette,” he noted. “James is gloriously normal and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s selling what he is: a normal Londoner who wants the city to succeed.”
Questions Over Khan’s Future
Cleverly’s entrance into the race has intensified speculation about whether Sadiq Khan will seek a fourth term in City Hall. First elected in 2016, Khan has so far avoided confirming his intentions for the upcoming contest.
A YouGov survey conducted this month found that 56 percent of Londoners believed Khan should step aside and allow a different Labour candidate to contest the election. This public sentiment creates uncertainty over Labour’s candidate selection process.
Should Khan withdraw, potential successors within Labour ranks include Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central, Rosena Allin-Khan, and former justice secretary David Lammy. Recent polling by Savanta for the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London suggested Khan would still win if he stood, despite growing Green Party support. The survey placed Labour on 33 percent, Reform UK on 20 percent, the Conservatives on 18 percent, the Greens on 14 percent, and the Liberal Democrats on 10 percent.
Cleverly did not hold back in his assessment of the current incumbent during his LBC interview, suggesting Khan had lost his enthusiasm for the role. The former foreign secretary also directed criticism at Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, describing him as “very anti-London” and claiming he had “got a war with London”.
“Andy Burnham just doesn’t get it,” Cleverly said. “London needs someone to fight its corner.”
Why it Matters
Cleverly’s candidacy represents a significant test for the Conservative Party’s electoral strategy in urban centres. With support for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK continuing to grow on the right, the party faces a difficult balancing act between retaining core voters and appealing to the moderate, metropolitan electorate necessary to win City Hall. The outcome of this contest will provide crucial insights into whether the Conservatives can reconnect with London voters after years of decline, and whether Cleverly’s approach of emphasising competence over culture war politics offers a viable path to rebuilding the party’s position in Britain’s major cities.
