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The MP for Braintree wants to challenge Sir Sadiq Khan's dominance in the capital

Sir James Cleverly has resigned from the shadow cabinet as the former home secretary has confirmed he intends to run to be the next Mayor of London.

The MP for Braintree has resigned from Kemi Badenoch's front bench with immediate effect.

A source close to the Conservative leader told The Sunday Times she was "gutted" to lose the Shadow Housing Minister from her top team.

Sir James made the decision to make his position on his future clear before the Conservative Party's annual conference in October.

An source close to Mrs Badenoch said: "Kemi is delighted that someone of his calibre wants to put himself forward to be Conservative nominee for mayor of London.

"She really wants someone to take on Sadiq Khan, as he is destroying the London she loves."

However, Mrs Badenoch cannot officially endorse Sir James to be Conservative candidate as he will still have to win the party’s nomination for the mayoral election.

Reform UK's Laila Cunningham is currently the only confirmed candidate for the next mayoral election.

Sir James, 56, was born and raised in Lewisham, south London and served as a member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley until 2016.

He has represented the Braintree constituency since 2015, serving as Foreign Secretary under Liz Truss and Home Secretary under Rishi Sunak.

Taking aim at Sadiq Khan, Sir James said: "It’s the visible things that are damaging London’s reputation.

"The impression that the mayor has given up on policing the streets. The constant ratcheting up of tax and regulation. It’s not good enough to say it’s all fake news. The way you deal with bad news, even if it’s unfair, is to put better news out there. Khan has spectacularly failed to do that.”

Sir James also heaped praise on Mrs Badenoch as he said the Tory leader is "getting great cut through" to the public.

He said: "Our route to getting Kemi in No10 has got to be through success in London. It’s a business city, entrepreneurialism, arts, culture.

"I don’t buy the lazy idea that London is a Labour city. It represents the philosophical heart of the Conservative Party.

"Frankly, Kemi is doing really well now. She’s getting great cut through. It took longer than any of us would have liked, but she’s getting it."

Nigel Farage revealed earlier this year that Ms Cunningham, a former Conservative councillor in Westminster, would head up the party's London branch and stand as Reform's candidate for City Hall, making her the first declared contender for the 2028 election.

Sir Sadiq Khan, who was elevated to the peerage by Sir Keir Starmer, has not yet committed to seeking a fourth term. He has indicated the decision will come next year.

"After discussing it with my wife and family, I'll make a decision next year. My tank is full, I'm still fizzing with ideas," he said.

However, he added: "One thing that gnaws at me a bit is that I'm not sure it's good for one person to be in charge for too long. I'm not saying we're North Korea or Russia. The polls show I would win a fourth term."

In an op-ed for the Sunday Times, Sir James said he had told Tory leader Kemi Badenoch he would leave her front bench.

"Serving there has been a privilege, and I know there will continue to be strong voices around that table," he said.

"But to run the most effective campaign possible, I must be free to speak about every aspect of London’s future and concentrate fully on winning this race."