James Cleverly resigns from shadow cabinet to run for mayor of London

Immediate resignation from the frontbench

Sir James Cleverly has resigned from his position as shadow minister for housing, communities and local government with immediate effect to launch a campaign for mayor of London. The Conservative MP for Braintree, who previously held senior government positions as both foreign secretary and home secretary, announced his departure in an article for the Sunday Times. Cleverly communicated his decision to step down directly to Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch before making the announcement public. His exit from the shadow cabinet marks an early departure from parliamentary opposition leadership to concentrate exclusively on the capital. The resignation leaves a vacancy on Badenoch's frontbench team as the party adjusts its shadow cabinet line-up.

I have told Kemi Badenoch that I will leave the shadow cabinet. Serving there has been a privilege, and I know there will continue to be strong voices around that table.

Core arguments for the London mayoral candidacy

In his published op-ed, Cleverly set out the reasoning behind his bid to become the Conservative candidate for City Hall. He wrote in the Times that London requires broad leadership rather than routine administrative oversight, stating that the city needs a champion who understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future. Cleverly explained that stepping away from his parliamentary portfolio gives him the independence needed to address every issue facing the capital. By vacating his shadow cabinet seat, he intends to speak freely on all aspects of London policy without being limited to housing and local government briefs. He stated that running an effective campaign requires total clarity of purpose and undivided public advocacy.

I am putting myself forward to be the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, because our capital needs more than an administrator.

Autumn party conference and campaign timetable

The timing of Cleverly's resignation comes ahead of the Conservative Party conference scheduled for October. The annual gathering in October provides a platform where Cleverly is expected to make his case directly to Conservative Party members and delegates. Announcing his mayoral intentions in August allows him to build organizational support before presenting his plans to the party membership in the autumn. He emphasized that mounting a competitive campaign across London requires dedicated focus well before the party completes its candidate selection. Leaving his shadow cabinet role allows him to devote all of his campaigning resources to the upcoming mayoral race.

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.

Looking ahead to the May 2028 contest

The election for mayor of London is scheduled to take place in May 2028. The incumbent mayor, Labour's Sir Sadiq Khan, is currently halfway through his third consecutive term at City Hall. Khan has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a fourth term in the 2028 contest. With the election still scheduled for May 2028, the early launch gives the Conservative Party a high-profile contender seeking to reclaim City Hall. Cleverly is the first senior Conservative politician and former cabinet secretary to officially declare an intention to stand for the mayoral post.