Key facts
- James Cleverly has resigned from the Conservative shadow cabinet.
- He will run for Mayor of London in the 2028 election.
- Cleverly aims to challenge the incumbent Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan.
- He stated he needs to be free to speak about London's future to win the race.
Conservative MP James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet to run for London mayor in the 2028 election. He announced his decision in an op-ed for the Sunday Times, stating he needs to be free to concentrate fully on winning the race. Cleverly's move sets up a potential contest against the incumbent Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, who is in his third term. Cleverly has previously held senior roles including Home Secretary, Education Secretary, and Party Chairman. His resignation creates a vacancy in the shadow cabinet, where he most recently served as shadow housing secretary.