Shadow Housing Secretary resigns to stand as London Mayor
Sir James Cleverly reveals that he will step down from the Shadow Cabinet to run as the Conservative’s candidate to become Mayor of London.
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly has stepped down from his role as he revealed plans to run for Mayor of London.
The Conservative MP for Braintree had been Shadow Housing Secretary since July 2025 but announced this weekend that he wants to run as the party’s candidate for the mayoral elections in 2028.
It is as yet unclear if he will stand down as MP and the Conservatives are yet to choose their candidate.
Londoners need homes they can afford to buy or rent.”
Sir James, who was a speaker at last year’s The Negotiator Conference & Expo, said on social media: “London needs more than an administrator. It needs a champion, someone who understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future.
“I know this city. I know the job. And I know I can do it.
“That’s why I’m running to be the Conservative Candidate for London Mayor.”
Sir James has already launched a campaign website called JcforLondon, where he outlines his experience such as growing up and starting a business in the capital as well as running the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, the London Waste & Recycling Board and serving on the Metropolitan Police Authority.
The current London Mayor, Labour’s Sadiq Khan, hasn’t confirmed if he will run again yet.
Mayoral race
Sir Sadiq began his first term in 2016 and beat Tory candidate Susan Hall by more than 275,000 votes at the most recent mayoral election in May 2024.
One of Sir James’ main policy proposals as Housing Secretary was to abolish Stamp Duty, something he didn’t appear to propose during the 14 years of Tory government.
Outlining his potential policies if selected to run as London Mayor in The Sunday Times, he said: “Londoners need homes they can afford to buy or rent. Entrepreneurs need to be able to start and grow businesses without being strangled by cost and regulation.
“We cannot tax and subsidise our way to prosperity. We must reduce the cost of building homes and running businesses and remove the barriers holding people back.”
