Cleverly's London Mayoral Bid Hinges on Winning Liberal Democrat Second Preferences

James Cleverly resigned from the shadow cabinet on 29 August 2026 to seek the Conservative nomination for London mayor. The 2028 contest will use the supplementary vote system: voters mark first and second choices, and if no candidate clears 50% on first preferences, second choices are redistributed. LSE's Professor Tony Travers said Cleverly must win over Liberal Democrat voters to succeed where 2024 candidate Susan Hall failed.