James Cleverly has quit from Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet in order to launch his bid to run for mayor of London.
Cleverly, who was the shadow housing and local government secretary, said he would put himself forward for the Conservatives’ candidacy for London mayor.
He said the capital needed someone who “is prepared to fight for its future” in an op-ed article.
Cleverly’s candidacy would make him the most high profile figure to stand for the Conservatives in London since Boris Johnson left in 2016.
Sir Sadiq Khan, who has been the mayor since 2016, has not confirmed whether he would stand again as the Labour candidate in 2028.
Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promoted Khan to the House of Lords in his resignation honours last month.
It has been widely rumoured that Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent Central and Brent South, could put herself forward to run for London.
On Friday, Butler teased a campaign slogan as she stood in front of a sign stating ‘A New Dawn’ in Victoria before doing interviews with people to talk up the capital.
Cleverly attacks Khan and Burnham
Cleverly’s decision to put himself forward is likely to put an end to speculation over who could stand for the Tories in London.
In his op-ed for The Sunday Times, Cleverly wrote: “Our capital should never be embarrassed by its success. Its success drives the British economy, and the route both to Britain’s economic recovery and to the next Conservative government runs through London.”
He also accused Andy Burnham of treating the capital as a “cash cow” for higher tax receipts while Khan had let London’s “reputation slip”.
“I am putting myself forward to be the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, because our capital needs more than an administrator. It needs a champion, it needs someone who believes in London, understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future.”
One source working with Tories in London said he believed Cleverly would be the only candidate able to take on the capital, which is widely viewed as strong Labour territory.
Former Westminster councillor and Tory member Laila Cunningham is set to stand for Reform.
The party’s leader Nigel Farage said he believed Cunningham could take London’s mayoralty last year.
