Cleverly quits shadow cabinet to run for London mayor

Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet to launch a bid for the London mayoral election. He stated that he needs to be free from shadow cabinet duties to focus on his campaign for the 2028 election.
Why it matters
This move signals an early start to the political maneuvering for the London mayoral race and reflects internal shifts within the Conservative Party.
Published 29 August 2026, 16:22 BST Updated 5 minutes ago Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly has said he is resigning from the shadow cabinet to run for London mayor.
"I am putting myself forward to be the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, because our capital needs more than an administrator," he wrote in the Times.
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