Festus Akinbusoye, Britain’s first black police and crime commissioner, has declared his intention to contest the Conservative candidacy for London mayor, challenging Sir James Cleverly for the position. A Westminster councillor and former policing chief in Bedfordshire, Akinbusoye positioned himself as a "fresh face" capable of returning London to Conservative leadership after more than a decade under Labour control.

Akinbusoye highlighted concerns about the Metropolitan Police, characterizing the declining officer numbers as a "crisis" and criticizing current Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan for being perceived by frontline officers as "against the police." He pledged to reverse this trend by championing the police force if elected and proposed reinstating the borough-command structure, which would hold local commanders and councillors accountable for policing in specific areas. He emphasized that boroughs such as Westminster and Camden should not be grouped together due to their distinct characteristics.

His announcement follows Sir James Cleverly’s recent resignation from the shadow cabinet under Kemi Badenoch to focus on his mayoral campaign. Akinbusoye’s background includes growing up in Brixton, where he experienced violence firsthand, including an incident involving a machete and another where a gun was pulled on him. Despite these challenges, he founded a security business serving cinemas, supported by the Prince’s Trust, starting from his parents’ council flat.

Elected in 2021 as police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, Akinbusoye made history as the first black individual to hold that office. Reflecting on his journey, he described his rise to prominence as unlikely but said it fueled his passion for London's potential, particularly regarding opportunities for diverse communities.

The Mayor’s Office has been contacted for comment.