James Cleverly resigns as Shadow Housing Secretary to run for London Mayor

Sir James Cleverly, the Conservative Shadow Housing Secretary and MP for Braintree, has resigned from his shadow cabinet position to focus on a campaign for Mayor of London. Cleverly intends to run as the Conservative candidate in the mayoral election scheduled for May 2028.

Cleverly stated that London requires a “champion” rather than an administrator and emphasized his familiarity with the city through his previous roles on the Metropolitan Police Authority and the London Waste & Recycling Board. His platform includes addressing housing affordability and reducing costs for entrepreneurs by cutting regulations and taxes.

While Cleverly has stepped down from his shadow ministerial duties, he remains the MP for Braintree. He noted that the economy of Essex is deeply interconnected with London’s, suggesting that the current administration under Sadiq Khan has negatively impacted both the capital and surrounding areas.