London’s 2028 Mayoral Race: Candidates, Polls and Party Dynamics

London’s most coveted political office is set to be contested in the 2028 election. Incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan, who has held the position for three terms, has not confirmed whether he will seek a fourth term and says a decision will be made next year. The uncertainty has prompted a slate of candidates from the Conservative Party, Reform UK, Labour and the Green Party to declare their intentions to run for the mayoralty.

The Guardian

Khan’s three-term tenure has been described as a “vice-like grip” on the capital. His reluctance to announce a re-election bid has opened the field for challengers, while his office has not responded to media requests for comment on his future plans.

The Guardian

• James Cleverly – Former home secretary, MP for Braintree (Conservative). Has signaled his intention to become the Conservative mayoral candidate.

The Guardian

• Festus Akinbusoye – Westminster councillor and Britain’s first Black police commissioner (Conservative). Positions himself as a “fresh face” with private-sector experience.

The Guardian

• Laila Cunningham – Former Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor (Reform UK). Campaigning on a platform that rejects a “left or right” divide.

The Guardian

• Dawn Butler – Labour MP for Brent North (Labour). Has hinted at running once Khan’s intentions are clear.

The Guardian

• Zack Polanksi – Leader of the Green Party in London (Green). No firm candidate announced; the party is scouting potential contenders.

The Guardian

A Savanta UK poll commissioned by the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London shows the following first-round support: Labour candidate 33 %, Conservative candidate 18 %, Reform UK candidate 18 %, Green Party candidate 17 %, Liberal Democrat candidate 9 %. The split in the right-wing vote between the Conservatives and Reform UK is highlighted as a factor that could benefit the incumbent.

The Guardian

• Cunningham told the Guardian she will not step aside for the Tories and expects “two Sirs versus a woman” – Sir Khan and Sir Cleverly – in the final contest.

The Guardian

• Butler posted a video walking past a sign reading “a new Dawn for London,” indicating she would run if Khan does not seek another term.

The Guardian

• “It is not a left or right divide either, we won nine seats in Barking and Dagenham in the local elections, where the Tories wouldn’t dream of winning one.” — Reform. Laila Cunningham

The Guardian

• Khan’s decision on a fourth term is expected next year, after which party-level selections for the Conservative, Labour and Reform UK tickets will be finalized.

The Guardian

• The Green Party is expected to announce a candidate after its internal scouting process, likely in the months preceding the official campaign launch.

The Guardian

The evolving field suggests a competitive contest, with the incumbent’s pending decision poised to shape the strategic calculations of all major parties.

Kent Live