Reform UK Mayoral Candidate's Burqa Remarks Prompt Criticism from London Leaders

Reform UK's London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham sparked controversy after suggesting Muslim women wearing burqas should face stop-and-search checks, arguing that face coverings have no place in an open society and imply criminal intent. She also described parts of London as resembling a 'Muslim city' with cultural differences. Her remarks drew criticism from Mayor Sadiq Khan and Muslim leaders, who warned such statements risk deepening social divisions and undermining the city's diversity. Cunningham, a British-born Muslim of Egyptian descent, was recently announced as Reform UK's 2028 mayoral candidate.