Cleverly resigns shadow cabinet to seek Conservative nomination for London mayor

Unbiased summary

James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree and former home secretary, resigned from Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet to run for the Conservative nomination for London mayor. He announced his bid via an op-ed in The Sunday Times, framing his candidacy around enterprise, opportunity, and support for Badenoch. Cleverly criticised Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, accusing Burnham of being anti-London and claiming Khan's policies, including Ulez, have harmed drivers. He dismissed Reform UK's threat, calling Nigel Farage a 'toddler' and insisting Reform is past its peak. The 2028 mayoral election is expected to see Khan possibly seeking another term, though he has not confirmed. Cleverly's campaign is seen as a contrast to the previous Tory candidate Susan Hall's more right-wing approach.

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Coverage by outlet

The Guardian left

Angle Frames Cleverly's bid as a moderate counterpoint to the Conservative Party's rightward shift under Badenoch, with focus on internal party dynamics.

Bias Emphasizes Cleverly's avoidance of culture war issues and his 'classically Conservative' framing as a contrast to Badenoch's leadership. Downplays his attacks on Burnham and Khan, instead highlighting his distancing from right-wing rhetoric and referencing Susan Hall's controversies. Omits specifics of Cleverly's criticisms of London crime or Ulez, focusing on the leadership context.

Cleverly avoids culture war issues in pitch to be next London mayor

i Paper centre

Angle Centres on Cleverly's criticism of Reform UK and his claiming that London mayoral candidates must not hate the city, framing it as a swipe at Reform's candidate.

Bias Focuses on Cleverly's remarks about Laila Cunningham and Reform's stance on crime, quoting his 'obviously hate the city' line. Includes Reform's response, giving balance. Emphasizes his dismissal of Reform as past its peak, while downplaying his specific policy proposals like Ulez reviews or attacks on Khan. The angle is more about the tactical challenge from Reform than the full scope of his campaign.

James Cleverly: ‘Nowhere’s safe in London? You can’t run a city you obviously hate’

City AM centre-right

Angle Presents the news as a straightforward political announcement, with a focus on the practical implications for Conservative candidacy and potential Labour opponents.

Bias Provides factual details of Cleverly's resignation, his op-ed, and mentions of Khan and Burnham. Emphasizes the potential Labour candidate Dawn Butler and Khan's possible re-election bid. Avoids editorializing on ideology, but frames Cleverly as a high-profile candidate since Boris Johnson, suggesting a positive angle for the Tories. Omits his Ulez or crime remarks, focusing on the political race mechanics.

Cleverly announces bid to run for London mayor

Daily Mail right

Angle Emphasizes Cleverly's attack on Andy Burnham as a 'war on London', framing it as a contentious north-south political clash.

Bias Headline and lead focus heavily on Burnham as a 'Northerner' declaring war on London, invoking regional tension. Emphasizes Cleverly's accusation that Burnham is centralising power in Manchester at London's expense. Highlights council funding cuts and quotes Cleverly's LBC interview, but omits his criticisms of Khan's crime record or Ulez, instead driving a narrative of London being sidelined by the Labour government. The language is emotive ('declared war', 'stripping hundreds of millions').

Northerner Burnham has 'declared war on London' says Cleverly in pitch to be capital's Tory mayor

GB News right

Angle Frames Cleverly's bid as a direct challenge to Sadiq Khan's 'war on the motorist', with a strong focus on Ulez and driver policies.

Bias The headline and lead prominently feature the 'war on the motorist' phrasing and his promise to review Ulez. Quotes Cleverly's characterization of Ulez as a 'vindictive assault on drivers'. Also includes a separate article rejecting Reform claims, but this analysis focuses on the first article. Omits his attacks on Burnham and the broader context of his campaign, instead highlighting a policy that resonates with right-wing audiences. Uses emotive language like 'much-maligned scheme' and 'vindictive assault'.

James Cleverly to end Sadiq Khan's 'war on the motorist' in London mayoral bid

James Cleverly rejects claims he is ‘running scared’ of Reform with London mayor bid as he brands Nigel Farage a ‘toddler’