Reform UK has become the first party to unveil its candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election, announcing Westminster councillor Laila Cunningham as its standard-bearer.
Party leader Nigel Farage confirmed the decision at a media event in London on Wednesday, ending months of speculation. Cunningham is expected to challenge Labour’s Sir Sadiq Khan, should he seek another term at City Hall.
Cunningham said tackling crime would be her top priority, accusing the current mayor of failing to keep Londoners safe. She described the capital as suffering from a breakdown in law and order and promised a tough stance if elected.
“There will be a new sheriff in town,” she said, vowing to prioritise knife crime, drugs, robbery, shoplifting and sexual violence, and to push the Metropolitan Police towards what she called visible policing.
A former campaigner on street crime issues, Cunningham previously drew attention after attempting to track down muggers who targeted her children, earning her the label of a vigilante mum in some media reports.
She directly blamed Khan for policing failures, noting that the mayor appoints the Met commissioner, sets policing priorities and controls the budget. While offering limited policy detail, she pledged to restructure the police to get officers back on the streets.
Cunningham also criticised Khan’s transport and environmental policies, particularly the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which she promised to scrap, arguing it unfairly penalises workers, carers and small business owners.
Reform UK secured just 3.2% of the vote in the 2024 mayoral election, but the party says its rising national profile positions it as a serious challenger in 2028.
Responding, a source close to the mayor said Khan remains focused on delivering a safer, fairer and greener London, pointing to falling homicide rates, housebuilding and improved air quality.
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