James Cleverly London mayoral candidacy

James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree and former Shadow Housing Secretary, has resigned from his position in the shadow cabinet to launch a campaign for the 2028 London mayoral election.

Cleverly has positioned his candidacy as a way to provide London with a “champion” and to help the Conservative Party succeed in the capital. He emphasized his familiarity with the city through previous roles on the Metropolitan Police Authority and the London Waste & Recycling Board. His platform focuses on addressing housing affordability and reducing costs for entrepreneurs by cutting taxes and regulations. He also criticized the current administration under Sadiq Khan, arguing that its policies have negatively impacted both London and the interconnected economy of Essex.

In his critique of the current mayor, Cleverly described existing policies as a “war on the motorist” and a “vindictive assault on drivers,” specifically targeting the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). He expressed an intention to review the scheme to alleviate financial pressures on businesses and motorists, though he did not commit to scrapping the program entirely.

Expanding his platform, Cleverly has pledged to run on “classic Conservative” principles, including individual freedoms and strict crime policies. He characterized his vision for the city as “entrepreneurial, future-focused, and ambitious,” aiming to challenge the current Labour government's impact on the economy. In response, supporters of Sadiq Khan have dismissed Cleverly’s claims that the current administration is “anti-London” as “ludicrous,” citing the city’s housing powers and funding as evidence of successful governance.