James Cleverly quits shadow cabinet to run for London mayor and challenge Labour’s Sadiq Khan

NewsPolitics JAMES Cleverly has quit his role in the Shadow Cabinet to run for Mayor of London. The Conservative MP for Braintree and former Home Secretary will resign from his current role with immediate effect. Cleverly explained that he decided he needed to make his position clear ahead of the Conservative Party conference in October. It comes amid speculation that Cleverly was planning to stand in the race for London Mayor. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Kemi Badenoch will now need to fill the role of shadow minister for housing, communities and local government. Labour has held dominance in the capital for a long time with Mayor Sadiq Khan now half way through his third term in the role. Cleverly, 56, said he was looking to challenge Labour’s hold on the seat. After he informed his party leader of his decision on Thursday, Cleverly said: “She took it very well.” In an interview with The Sunday Times he continued: “Kemi has been very gracious.” The Times reports that a source close to the Tory leader said: “Kemi is delighted that someone of his calibre wants to put himself forward to be Conservative nominee for mayor of London. Most read in The Sun “She really wants someone to take on Sadiq Khan, as he is destroying the London she loves.” Cleverly will now have to win the party’s nomination for the mayoral election before any of his colleagues can endorse him. His Cabinet experience under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are likely to make him a favourite among his peers. He said: “We need a credible big hitter putting themselves forward for mayor of London.” Cleverly explained that he sees the route to success for the Tories begins in London. He added that if they want to see Kemi Badenoch in Number 10 the party will need to win support in the capital. His withdrawal from the shadow cabinet will likely lead to some speculation about a reshuffle.