Sir James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, has indicated he is considering a bid for the London mayoralty in 2028. Speaking at a press conference, Cleverly said: "Of course, I think about it," adding that "Labour's failures at a national level and in London are right in my face." Cleverly served as a London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley from 2008 to 2016 and became leader of the Conservative Party in London in 2011. He ran for the party leadership in 2024 but did not reach the final two.
Cleverly has received support from local Tories. According to the Daily Express, Susan Hall, the former mayoral candidate, said she would be the first to help Cleverly if he decides to stand, describing him as someone who loves London and knows how the city works. Neil Garratt, a Conservative assembly member, told the same outlet that Cleverly would bring passion for London. However, Cleverly may face competition from Sebastian Coe, the former Tory MP and Olympic gold medalist who played a key role in bringing the 2012 Olympics to London. Multiple reports indicate that private polling shows Coe is more popular in London than any current party leader and would beat both Khan and Cleverly in a mayoral race. A poll of 2,000 Londoners found Coe had a favourability rating 19 points higher than Khan, while Cleverly's net favourability is plus three. Coe's term as president of World Athletics is due to finish in 2025, potentially freeing him to run.
Kemi doesn't want a coronation and looks forward to hearing from potential candidates.
Conservative strategy for the mayoralty is taking shape. A senior Conservative source said Kemi Badenoch plans to use the party's recent election success in London as a "bridgehead" to win the mayoralty. In Thursday's local elections, the Tories took back control of Westminster and deprived Labour of control in Wandsworth, while holding off a Reform UK challenge in Bexley and Bromley. A Tory source said: "Reform threw millions of pounds at London... In the end we increased our vote in Bexley and elsewhere, and Reform were reduced to taking only Havering off the local independents. We have established a bridgehead." Another source added that Badenoch wants a competitive contest for the candidate, ideally someone with business experience who can outperform the party brand.
Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has hinted he will seek a fourth term as mayor. Labour sustained losses in councils across London as the Green Party made gains. The Greens' Zoe Garbett was elected mayor of Hackney, and the party also claimed mayoralties in Lewisham and Waltham Forest. The Conservative Party has not yet announced a timeline for its selection process for the 2028 mayoral candidate.
Reform threw millions of pounds at London. Farage had been open that Bexley was his number one target. He was talking up Bromley and other boroughs as surefire Reform wins. In the end we increased our vote in Bexley and elsewhere, and Reform were reduced to taking only Havering off the local independents. We have established a bridgehead.
Labour has been routed from all but its safest London boroughs, and is now in a straight fight with the Greens to stay competitive in London. And while the Lib Dems have turned certain areas of south-west London into one party states, only the Conservatives can legitimately claim to have appeal across the whole of the capital city. Kemi has made no secret of her desire for a competitive contest for the Tory mayoral candidate after poor showings from Susan Hall, Shaun Bailey and Zac Goldsmith. She wants someone like her who hasn't spent a lifetime in politics, ideally with a bit of business experience, and who can cut through with the general public and outperform the brand in the way she has.