Openly Gay London Assembly Chair Andrew Boff Leaves Conservative Party
London Assembly chair Andrew Boff has left Britain’s Conservative Party after 53 years of membership over disagreements about the European Convention on Human Rights. Enfield Dispatch reported his departure on October 22, 2026. He will continue as an independent Assembly member.
According to The Standard, Boff said he had been barred from seeking the party’s nomination for London mayor because he supports Britain remaining in the convention. He said he retained his Conservative principles and would not surrender them to remain a party member.
The Conservative Party argues that withdrawal would restore parliamentary control over legislation, strengthen border control and remove barriers to deportations. This is the party’s position on future policy.
Enfield Dispatch reported that Assembly Conservative leader Susan Hall thanked Boff for his service while backing party policy. Assembly member Emma Best called on him to surrender his seat, but the group said this was not its official position. Labour and the Liberal Democrats welcomed his decision to follow his principles; a Reform UK spokesperson considered him too liberal for a centre-right party.
The Assembly’s official profile now lists Boff as independent. He has served since 2008; the Assembly scrutinises the mayor. Boff is openly gay: in a 2022 LGBT+ Conservatives interview, he discussed his same-sex civil partnership, formed in 2005.
