London Mayor Race Heats Up! Cleverly's Bid Sparks Immediate MP Backlash

The race for London Mayor has officially begun, albeit over three years before the May 2028 election, with former Conservative Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly declaring his intention to seek the Tory candidacy. His announcement has immediately ignited a fiery debate, drawing sharp criticism from rival parties.

Upon revealing his bid, Sir James launched a direct attack on incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan, stating,

Under Sadiq Khan's Mayorship London's reputation has been allowed to slip, at home and abroad, while too many of its problems have been left to fester.

He also criticized Andy Burnham and suggested the Prime Minister was waging a "war on London." However, his entry into the mayoral contest was met with swift and stinging rebuttals. Steve Reed, Labour MP for Streatham and Croydon North and a former Cabinet minister, wasted no time in hitting back.

Reed challenged Cleverly's stance, questioning the Conservatives' record: “A senior member of the Tory government that cut London's police, doubled homelessness and starved London of funding year after year? Londoners don't forget.” The criticism wasn't limited to the Left.

Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson also weighed in, posting on X: “Does that mean the Lib Dems will have two candidates standing?” This signals that Sir James faces a multi-front battle, needing to contend with challenges from both Labour and Reform UK. Despite the immediate backlash, Sir James has garnered significant support from within Conservative circles, with many seeing him as the most formidable potential candidate since Boris Johnson.

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks, publicly expressed her support, messaging, “London is an incredib..." (The full message was truncated in the source). This early declaration by Sir James Cleverly effectively kickstarts the campaigning for the prestigious City Hall position, promising a contentious and closely watched election in the years to come.

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