Reform UK’s London Mayoral Candidate Draws Widespread Condemnation for Advocating Stop-and-Search of Burqa Wearers
Laila Cunningham’s comments on face coverings spark backlash from civic leaders and political opponents ahead of the 2028 campaign
Reform UK’s recently appointed candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election, Laila Cunningham, has triggered a political firestorm after proposing that women wearing burqas should be subject to stop-and-search by police, a stance that has attracted sharp criticism from across the capital’s political spectrum.
Cunningham, a Westminster City councillor and former Crown prosecutor who defected from the Conservative Party to Reform in 2025, made the remarks during a podcast interview in which she argued that full-face coverings should be presumed suspicious in an “open society”.
Her comments also included assertions about cultural change in parts of London, which she said contributed to a sense of unease among some residents.
The candidate’s remarks have been condemned by civil society figures and political leaders, who say they risk stoking division in one of the world’s most multicultural cities.
Shaista Gohir, a peer and chief executive of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, described Cunningham’s comments as dangerous and a dog-whistle to those inclined toward hatred, noting a surge in abusive correspondence directed at her organisation in recent days.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has long championed the city’s diversity, responded by emphasising the importance of freedom of religion and expression and rejecting the notion of dictating what women should wear.
Labour MP Afzal Khan characterised Cunningham’s approach as a divisive tactic that diverts attention from pressing issues like healthcare and education
Cunningham’s position illuminates internal tensions within Reform UK and broader debates over cultural integration, public safety and civil liberties.
Although she is herself of Egyptian heritage and identifies as Muslim, her stance has drawn disquiet from both within her party and beyond, including from voices who argue that focusing on a very small minority of burqa wearers detracts from the capital’s more significant challenges.
As the 2028 mayoral contest begins to take shape, the controversy over stop-and-search proposals underscores the high stakes of identity and security issues in London politics and the contrasting visions being put forward for the city’s future.
Cunningham, a Westminster City councillor and former Crown prosecutor who defected from the Conservative Party to Reform in 2025, made the remarks during a podcast interview in which she argued that full-face coverings should be presumed suspicious in an “open society”.
Her comments also included assertions about cultural change in parts of London, which she said contributed to a sense of unease among some residents.
The candidate’s remarks have been condemned by civil society figures and political leaders, who say they risk stoking division in one of the world’s most multicultural cities.
Shaista Gohir, a peer and chief executive of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, described Cunningham’s comments as dangerous and a dog-whistle to those inclined toward hatred, noting a surge in abusive correspondence directed at her organisation in recent days.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has long championed the city’s diversity, responded by emphasising the importance of freedom of religion and expression and rejecting the notion of dictating what women should wear.
Labour MP Afzal Khan characterised Cunningham’s approach as a divisive tactic that diverts attention from pressing issues like healthcare and education
Cunningham’s position illuminates internal tensions within Reform UK and broader debates over cultural integration, public safety and civil liberties.
Although she is herself of Egyptian heritage and identifies as Muslim, her stance has drawn disquiet from both within her party and beyond, including from voices who argue that focusing on a very small minority of burqa wearers detracts from the capital’s more significant challenges.
As the 2028 mayoral contest begins to take shape, the controversy over stop-and-search proposals underscores the high stakes of identity and security issues in London politics and the contrasting visions being put forward for the city’s future.
