Sir James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary and Braintree MP, has resigned from the Conservative Party's shadow cabinet to launch a bid for the London mayoral election. In an op-ed for The Sunday Times, he argued that London requires 'a champion' who can advocate for its future, criticizing Labour mayor Sadiq Khan's leadership and the current government's handling of the capital. Cleverly claimed London's economic significance is being overlooked, with issues left to fester under Labour's tenure. He also accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of treating London as a 'cash cow' subject to excessive taxation and regulation. With Sadiq Khan set for his third term and no confirmation on re-election, Cleverly's move creates a vacancy in the shadow cabinet ahead of potential reshuffles under new leader Kemi Badenoch. The former home secretary and education secretary, who previously represented the Tories on the London Assembly, faces Labour's candidate in the 2028 election. His decision highlights internal Conservative Party tensions and the high stakes of the mayoral race.