Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly has said he is resigning from the shadow cabinet to run for London mayor.
“I am putting myself forward to be the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, because our capital needs more than an administrator,” he wrote in the Times.
Sir James said he has told Tory leader Kemi Badenoch he is stepping down as shadow housing secretary, saying: “I must be free to speak about every aspect of London’s future and concentrate fully on winning this race.”
The capital is not set to vote on a new mayor until 2028. Labour incumbent Sir Sadiq Khan is yet to confirm whether he will seek an unprecedented fourth term.
Sir James, who was foreign secretary under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote that he intended to make London a city to be proud of again.
“We must rebuild its reputation and make it, once again, the best place in the world to live, work, invest and build a business,” he added.
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