James Cleverly is running to be Mayor of London

Perhaps his aim is higher than leader. Being mayor of a major city is becoming a reliable path to becoming PM

It would be less controversial to hang in there though, I don’t think he’d have to wait too long, and he’d surely be the obvious choice? The next mayoral election isn’t until 2028, so presumably he’s ruling himself out of a Tory leadership bid.

I’ll be keeping everything crossed that he beats Sadiq Khan but I fear not

sundowngirl

I’ll be keeping everything crossed that he beats Sadiq Khan but I fear not

As a Londoner I believe Sadiq has been a great mayor. Just recently it was proved that ULEZ had lowered the dangerous emissions in the air in the capital. Most Londoners rate him pretty highly. And I suppose that is all that mattersz

Sorry don’t know where that z came from.

I’m surprised too. I rate Cleverly highly. I assume it will be difficult to beat Sadiq Khan, and then what a waste of a talented politician. Maybe he thinks even more difficult to shift Badenoch.o

But why would it be a waste, he may win, few years as mayor, tories have a few years to rebuild then bobs your uncle.

It’s more that he’s declared his hand now, and stood down from the shadow cabinet rather than holding his counsel, when the election is still two years away - and as they say, that’s a long time in politics.