The Conservative Party has officially closed its application window for the 2028 London mayoral nomination, revealing four candidates who have publicly declared their interest. The contest aims to find a successor to Boris Johnson, the party’s only mayor of the capital since the role was created in 2008. The Tories have suffered three consecutive electoral defeats against the current mayor, Sadiq Khan, now Lord Khan of Tooting.
Gareth Bacon, the shadow minister for London, criticized the party’s previous campaigns during a speech at the Conservative conference in Birmingham. He described past efforts as “paper candidacies” that failed to take the mayoralty seriously, specifically noting that the party had “cut Susan Hall adrift” during the 2024 election. Bacon characterized Lord Khan as a “toxic and divisive” figure.
The mayoral election is scheduled for May 2028. While other parties have already begun their selections—with Reform UK choosing Leila Cunningham earlier this year and Liberal Democrat candidates Sarah Olney and Rob Blackie emerging—the Conservatives are buoyed by recent local election gains in traditional strongholds such as Westminster and Wandsworth in May 2026.
Sir James Cleverly, the MP for Braintree and former home and foreign secretary, is widely considered the front-runner. A former London Assembly member and head of the London Fire Authority, Cleverly has been actively campaigning at party events. Despite potential controversies surrounding his Brexit stance and fire authority cuts, he positioned himself as a champion for the city rather than merely an administrator. “I hope to be a real champion for London… I would make sure people are safe on the street and can really make a life for themselves,” Cleverly stated, adding that party affiliations are secondary to having a viable plan for the capital.
Festus Akinbusoye, a former Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner and Westminster City Council member, is also in the race. An immigrant from Nigeria who grew up in Canning Town, Akinbusoye campaigned on a platform focused on affordability and growth. “We do not have to accept that just because we’re a global city, London has got to be so unaffordable to build a life in,” he said, pledging to be a pro-policing and pro-business mayor.
Andrew Boff, the current chair of the London Assembly and a member since 2008, is seeking another term. Known for his detailed focus on housing, Boff outlined plans to address the family housing crisis by increasing funding for larger homes and encouraging self-building. He also proposed removing the outward extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).
Alexander Challoner, a public affairs professional who has lived in London for 35 years, entered the race with bold policy proposals. His “Fare Watch” initiative would introduce a reporting tool in the TfL Go app to combat fare evasion, alongside increased policing by British Transport Police. Challoner also advocated for a simplified London Plan and VAT reductions for gyms and local breweries.
The party will announce a shortlist of candidates in November, with a final pair expected to be revealed by November 20. The date was shifted from the originally proposed Friday the 13th due to superstitions surrounding the unlucky number.
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