Reform UK's candidate for the London mayoral election has faced severe condemnation after suggesting women wearing the burqa in public should be subject to police stop and search powers.
Controversial Comments Spark Immediate Backlash
Laila Cunningham, who is set to be Reform UK's candidate in the capital's 2028 mayoral contest, made the remarks in an interview with the Evening Standard. The British-born Muslim, whose parents are first-generation immigrants from Egypt, stated she would act to ban the wearing of the full-face religious garment in public spaces.
"It has to be assumed that if you're hiding your face, you're hiding it for a criminal reason," Cunningham said, without presenting evidence to support this claim. She further commented on parts of London, saying, "If you go to parts of London, it does feel like a Muslim city. The signs are written in a different language. You've got burqas being sold in markets." She argued there should be "one civic culture" and that it "should be British."
Crossbench Peer and Muslim Groups Issue Stern Rebuke
The comments were swiftly denounced as "dangerous" and a divisive "dog whistle" to racists. Cross-bench peer Baroness Shaista Gohir, who is also the CEO of the Muslim Women's Network UK, led the criticism.
Baroness Gohir revealed to the Guardian that her charity has been forced to remove signage outside its offices and staff picture profiles due to a sharp increase in abusive and threatening correspondence. She accused Cunningham of "sending a message to Muslims that they do not belong" and "emboldening people who already abuse Muslims."
Political Figures Condemn 'Divisive' Rhetoric
London Mayor Sadiq Khan weighed in on the controversy during an appearance on LBC on Friday, 17 January 2026. He accused some political figures of "trying to sow seeds of division" and championed London's diversity as key to its status as the "greatest city in the world."
"Why would you stop somebody practising their religion?" Khan asked. "These are quintessentially British rights that we're so proud of." He contrasted politicians who "play on people's fears" with those who address them, and defended a woman's "freedom to choose" what to wear.
Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, labelled Cunningham's statements a "deliberate and cynical ploy" designed to pump divisive ideas into society for electoral benefit.
The controversy also draws attention to Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, who has previously faced accusations from more than 20 former pupils of Dulwich College of making "racist, antisemitic and fascist" remarks during his own school days.
Reform UK's Defence of Police Powers
In response to the outcry, a spokesman for Reform UK stated: "Reform UK believes stop and search powers are essential in tackling London's escalating law and order problem. We also believe police should not have to worry about being accused of being prejudiced when carrying out these duties."
The episode highlights deepening tensions around religious freedom, security policy, and community cohesion in the run-up to future elections, setting the stage for a contentious debate on the limits of political discourse in a multicultural metropolis.
