James Cleverly
Sir James Spencer Cleverly is a British politician and Army Reserve officer who has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since July 2025. He previously served as Home Secretary from November 2023 to July 2024 and as Foreign Secretary from 2022 to 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Braintree since 2015. He previously served as Education Secretary from July to September 2022, Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020, and in other junior ministerial positions.
Standing...
Stories...
Aug 2, 2026
Lean Right
Shadow Home Secretary matching the government on border security and setting out Conservative alternatives on policing and migration.
Conservatives see him as a credible senior figure who can attack Labour from the centre-right without fueling Reform's insurgency.
Jul 25, 2026
Center
As Home Secretary, Cleverly faces scrutiny over the interception of a suspected car bomb near the Irish border and the police boat crash in London.
Lib Dems question Cleverly's handling of border security and emergency services funding, calling for stronger cross-party cooperation on Northern Ireland.
Jul 17, 2026
Lean Right
Shadow Home Secretary proposing a revised returns agreement with Rwanda and stronger enforcement against illegal working.
Seen as a more electable, pragmatic figure than some rivals, but still needs to prove his plan is deliverable.
Jul 12, 2026
Center
The Home Secretary is responsible for policing and cross-border cooperation, relevant to the murder arrest in South Africa and the cold case of Peter Falconio.
Lib Dems have called for Cleverly to improve police effectiveness in serious crime and ensure international cooperation works swiftly.