James Cleverly, the Conservative MP and former foreign secretary and home secretary, resigns from the UK opposition’s shadow cabinet to campaign to be Mayor of London. Multiple outlets report he leaves the role with immediate effect and is positioning himself as the Conservative candidate for the mayoral election.
The reports say he is set to challenge the incumbent mayor, Sadiq Khan, in the contest expected in 2028. In explaining his decision, Cleverly frames London’s governance as in need of a stronger advocate, using language about the city needing a “champion” and highlighting the scale of pressures facing the capital. Financial Times coverage adds that he describes London as being “under assault,” referencing Andrew Burnham in that framing, while other outlets focus more directly on his bid to lead the Conservative campaign.
Across the sources, the core details are his resignation timing, his intention to run for City Hall, and the prospect of opposing Khan at the next mayoral election.
