Politics Home Article | James Cleverly Mulls Run For London Mayor

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Cleverly, a former London Assembly member, said last year he would be “stupid not to think about” standing for mayor. Now, with only two years until City Hall elections, he told The House he was considering the option. 

“Of course I think about it,” he said. “The more you get involved with local government-related stuff, the more you get involved with housing, the more Labour’s failures at a national level and in London are right in my face.”

The former foreign and home secretary said that while Khan had previously tried to pin any shortcomings on the last government, the mayor now has “no one else to blame”. Khan has not yet confirmed whether he will run again.

Cleverly stressed that he was currently focused on his role in the shadow cabinet and as MP for Braintree, while working to maximise Conservative victories in 7 May’s local elections.

“That’s the immediate job,” he said, “and I’m not in the mood for being distracted by very flattering speculation about what I might do next”.

If Cleverly does run, his bid will divide opinion among the party’s London members, as some would prefer a candidate who did not serve in the last government. 

“James is a great guy and very popular in the party,” said one London Tory councillor. “He certainly has a lot of the characteristics we would want in a mayor.

 “However, he is also known as both an Essex MP and one of those that carry responsibility for some of the failings of the previous government. 

“To be honest, I think a lot of London members feel very 50/50 about his potential run, and need to see more commitment to London and a London-centric agenda.”

Another Conservative said Cleverly’s name recognition would prove advantageous. The Tories have not fielded an MP for mayor since Zac Goldsmith in 2016. 

“We Conservatives need ‘a name’ – someone Londoners have heard of,” said Westminster councillor Tony Devenish. “James and Seb Coe are the two names being talked about. I’d be very happy with either.”