SENIOR Conservative Sir James Cleverly has said that he is quitting the shadow cabinet to stand for London mayor.

The former foreign secretary and Braintree MP said that the capital needs “more than an administrator” after seeing its reputation “slip, at home and abroad, while too many of its problems have been left to fester.”

Speculation had rumbled for months that Sir James, who held the shadow housing, communities and local government brief since last July, was planning a bid for City Hall.

Labour incumbent Sir Sadiq Khan is halfway through his third term and has not confirmed whether he will stand again in May 2028.

Sir James, who also served as home secretary, will campaign from the back benches and is not seeking re-election in his constituency at the next general election.

In an op-ed for the Sunday Times, he said he had told Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch he would leave the shadow cabinet, opening up a vacancy amid rumours of reshuffle planned for next month.