Cleverly vows to oppose "anti-London" government decisions

Conservative mayoral hopeful James Cleverly has pledged to be a "champion" for London and resist any "anti-London" decisions made by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Cleverly, who has stepped down from the Tory frontbench to focus on his mayoral bid, stated he would work to end a "negative spiral" affecting businesses, housing affordability, and the cost of living by unleashing the city's economic potential.

Cleverly also criticised incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan, suggesting he has not maintained the same level of opposition to government decisions impacting London as seen under the previous Conservative administration. "He [Khan] has gone very, very quiet over the last couple of years," Cleverly told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "Previously, he banged the table and demanded stuff for London, but he’s gone very quiet recently. You need someone who is willing to have a row with the government, whether it’s your own or a different political party."

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Concerns over Devolution and Funding

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed enthusiasm for devolution, which involves transferring powers from central government to local leaders and mayors. However, concerns have been raised that this rebalancing of national resources could divert significant funding away from London towards the north of England. Reports indicate that the government's updated Fair Funding Review has led some London boroughs to complain about potential curbs on future resources, while a planned "mansion tax" is expected to disproportionately affect London properties due to higher property values.

Cleverly described Burnham's devolutionary approach as "meaningless," arguing that Downing Street should grant City Hall more economic autonomy. "You’re basically told: ‘Here’s devolved power, but you have to use it to do what I would do centrally’," he stated. He believes that easing the tax burden and fostering entrepreneurship in London would generate more tax revenue than the current economic climate. Cleverly aims to demonstrate that a different governing approach, focused on unleashing the city's potential, can benefit both London and the wider UK economy.

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Housing Crisis and Talent Drain

The former home secretary also pointed to Westminster and City Hall as contributors to London's housing crisis, labelling the current shortage and affordability issues as one of Sadiq Khan's "most significant failures." While acknowledging global factors such as high construction costs and interest rates, Cleverly asserted that Labour's housebuilding policies have "killed off the market." He claimed that the new London Plan, along with supplementary guidance and national policies, has added complexity, cost, and delays to housebuilding efforts. Additional property taxes and the reduction of funds for London councils, he argued, have further exacerbated the problem.

Cleverly warned that the housing crisis is contributing to a "negative spiral" as talent leaves the capital. He expressed concern that even young professionals on substantial salaries are considering leaving London, with some looking at destinations like Dubai. This exodus, he suggested, impacts the city's nightlife and hospitality sectors, making London feel deserted after dark and potentially deterring businesses from locating there due to staff shortages. He linked this brain drain to the Metropolitan Police's officer shortage, noting a fall in officer numbers since Khan took office.

Mayoral Candidacy Process

James Cleverly is currently one of four Conservative candidates vying for the party's nomination for the 2028 London mayoral election. The other candidates are London Assembly member Andrew Boff, Westminster City councillor Festus Akinbusoye, and businessman Alex Challoner. The Conservative Party has yet to finalise the list of candidates. Following this, a selection panel will narrow the field to two, after which party members will vote for their preferred candidate after a series of hustings, expected to conclude before the end of the year.