James Cleverly Refuses to Rule Out Bid for London Mayor After Local Election Results

James Cleverly has refused to rule out running for London mayor after the Conservative Party experienced poor results in local elections. " The interviewer noted that Nigel Farage’s Reform UK had made strong gains in the area, which had been a Conservative stronghold.

When directly asked if he would seek to become the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, Cleverly replied that the position was important. He added that it would be unwise for any serious politician not to consider it. "The London mayoralty is incredibly important, and it would be daft for any serious politician not to give it consideration," Cleverly said.

"But I love being MP for Braintree. I want to get Essex back into conservative control. I want to get Kemi into No10. " The interviewer responded by noting that Cleverly had neither denied nor ruled out the possibility.

The local election results showed Reform UK performing strongly in parts of Essex that had previously supported the Conservatives. These outcomes have prompted discussion within the Conservative Party about future candidate selections and leadership strategies ahead of the next general election.

London mayor is a high-profile elected position that carries significant influence over transport, housing, and policing policy in the UK capital. The next contest for the role is scheduled for 2028. Cleverly currently serves as Shadow Housing Secretary and represents Braintree in Parliament.

His remarks leave open the question of whether he might seek a different role if selected as the party's candidate.