Sadiq Khan faces Mayor challenge from Tory big hitter James Cleverly in Mayor | Politics | News
Khan looks set for third term as Mayor of London in 2028 (Image: Getty)
Sir Sadiq Khan may face a new rival for the post of Mayor of London at the next election in 2028; because the Conservative Party’s major candidate, Sir James Cleverly, has heavily hinted that he will throw his hat into the ring. Sir James, 56, was a member of the Greater London Authority before being elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Braintree, Essex.
The recent Conservative Shadow Cabinet member stood to lead the Conservative Party in 2024 but failed to make it to the final two with the support of Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. Sir James, a popular figure in the London Conservative Party, was the London Councilor for Bexley and Bromley between 2008 and 2016. He became leader of the party in London in 2011 and became an MP in 2015.
Sir James said: “The failures of the Labor Party nationally and in London are before my eyes.” When asked if he would consider running for the position of Mayor of London at the next election, he said “of course I’m considering it”. Sir James was said to be considering running for office at the last election in 2024, but ultimately the Conservative Party did not take part in the selection process.
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He told The House magazine: “The more you deal with local government affairs, the more you deal with housing, the more I come across Labour’s failings nationally and in London.”
Former Mayoral Candidate Susan Hall told the Express this morning that she had “always been a huge supporter of James”, adding that she felt he “would make an incredible Mayor of London”.
Describing the job as “the best in the country”, Ms Hall said: “Now is the time to have someone who loves our great city and I know he does. As a Councilor he knows how it all works so if he decides to stand up I will be first in the queue to help him.”
Sir Sadiq, who has controlled London since 2016 and is now the city’s longest-serving Mayor, has been criticized by Sir James, who has often said the Mayor has tried to blame previous Conservative governments for all the shortcomings in the capital. Sir James says the Mayor now has “nobody else to blame”.
Conservative Councilor Neil Garratt told the Express: “The Conservatives have always had the right ideas to get London back on track, not just as a great world city but as a great place to live. But we haven’t always been able to communicate that to Londoners, or our passion for every corner of this great city. That’s what James will bring.”
With two years until the London elections, the Conservative Party is likely to begin the election process to look for candidates soon. Last time they launched the process more than a year after the election and have since faced pressure to do so sooner this time. Sir Sadiq has previously hinted that he wants to run for the post again; He told reporters in September last year that he intended to run again and appeared to confirm this in February this year, saying he was “already preparing” his campaign.
Wisely says he’s ‘considering’ running for Mayor of London (Image: Getty)
The current incumbent is the only Mayor since positions were created to serve more than two terms, and is the most electorally popular politician in the city, having taken office nearly 250,000 votes ahead of her closest rival, the Conservative Party’s Susan Hall, in the last election.
But Sir James said his immediate focus was on campaigning in the upcoming local elections, alongside his role as a local MP. He said: “I’m not in the mood to be distracted by flattering speculation about what I might do next.”
The next Mayoral election will not be until 2028.
