London’s mayoral election in 2028 is still more than two years away, but one name is already generating strong interest: Laila Cunningham, London mayor candidate for Reform UK. As a former senior prosecutor, a mother of seven, a practising Muslim, and a Westminster councillor, she brings a very different style to the race against the long-serving incumbent Sadiq Khan.
Many Londoners feel that crime – especially knife crime, phone thefts, shoplifting and violence against women – has not been tackled firmly enough. Laila Cunningham speaks directly about these worries. In several speeches, she has promised that if elected, she will be a “new sheriff in town” who launches an “all-out war on crime”. Her clear, confident way of talking has caught the attention of many voters who are looking for change.
This article explains who Laila Cunningham is. London mayor hopeful, what she stands for, why her message is connecting with people, and what challenges she will face in a very competitive election.
From Immigrant Family to Crown Prosecutor
Laila Cunningham was born in Paddington, London, in 1977. Her parents had moved from Egypt to the United Kingdom in the 1960s to escape political and economic difficulties. She grew up in Kensal Rise with four siblings in a home that valued both hard work and British values.
After school,l she studied law and later became a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). For many years, she dealt with serious criminal cases, gaining first-hand knowledge of how the justice system operates and where it sometimes fails. This experience shapes much of what she says today about law and order.
She has also lived a varied life outside the courtroom. She briefly applied to join MI5 after the 7/7 London bombings, worked on a start-up app to help self-employed women, taught yoga, and raised seven children. Her family life gives her a parent’s perspective on safety concerns that many London families share.
Entering Politics and the Switch to Reform UK
In May 2022, Laila Cunningham was elected as a Conservative councillor for Lancaster Gate ward on Westminster City Council. She held regular advice surgeries, listened to local problems, and built a reputation as someone who got things done.
In June 2025, she made a big decision. She left the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK. This move made her the first Reform UK councillor in London. She explained the change by saying she wanted to speak more openly about the issues that matter most to ordinary people, especially crime and public safety.
In January 2026, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, named her as the party’s candidate for the London mayoral election in 2028. The announcement put her firmly in the spotlight.
The “New Sheriff in Town” Promise
One phrase Laila Cunningham repeats in almost every speech is “there will be a new sheriff in town”. She uses it to signal that she wants to take a much tougher approach to law and order.
In her own words, she has said she will launch an “all-out war on crime”. She names specific problems she wants to tackle:
- Knife crime and the young people carrying blades
- Phone snatchers who target people on the street
- Shoplifting is causing many high-street shops close
- Violence against women and girls
- Grooming gangs and rape gangs that she believes have been ignored for far too long
She has also promised a “reckoning” for those who covered up or failed to act on serious crimes in the past. This includes any police officers, council officials or politicians she believes protected criminals instead of victims.
Laila Cunninghamargues that current policing is too soft and that political correctness has stopped the authorities from doing their job properly. She wants more visible police officers on the streets, faster prosecutions, and stronger sentences for repeat offenders.
Why Her Message Is Connecting
Crime statistics show that many Londoners feel less safe than they did ten years ago. Knife attacks, robberies and sexual offences appear frequently in the news. For parents, especially mothers, the fear that their children could become victims is very real.
Laila Cunningham speaks about these fears in plain language that many people understand. She does not use complicated political phrases. Instead, she talks about “ordinary Londoners”, “common sense”, and “protecting our daughters”.
Because she is a practising Muslim and comes from an immigrant family, her comments about integration carry extra weight. She says that everyone who comes to live in London should accept British values such as respect for the law, equality between men and women, and openness in public life. She believes that failing to insist on these values creates problems for everyone.
Her confident speaking style also helps her message stand out. In television interviews and short video clips, she looks straight at the camera, speaks without notes, and answers questions directly. Many viewers say she sounds honest and determined – qualities they feel are missing from other politicians.
Main Policies She Is Likely to Push
While Laila Cunningham, London mayor candidate,e has not yet published a full manifesto, her speeches point to several clear priorities:
- Crime and Policing
- Rewrite the Mayor’s police and crime plan
- Bring back more “bobbies on the beat”
- Tougher approach to stop-and-search where there is reasonable suspicion
- Faster action on anti-social behaviour and low-level crime that makes people feel unsafe
- Violence Against Women and Girls
- Stronger focus on rape and sexual assault cases
- Better support for victims
- Zero tolerance for grooming gangs
- Integration and Community Cohesion
- Encourage newcomers to adopt British values
- Oppose practices that she believes separate communities (for example, she has said face coverings in public should generally not be allowed unless for medical reasons)
- Accountability
- Investigate past failures in handling serious crimes
- Make sure those who hid or ignored crimes face consequences
These ideas are likely to appeal to voters who feel the current mayor has not done enough on safety, even if he has made progress in other areas such as transport and air quality.
The Challenges She Will Face
Laila Cunningham is entering a very difficult race. Sadiq Khan has won three mayoral elections and has a strong campaign machine behind him. Labour still has a large number of loyal supporters in inner London.
Her move from the Conservatives to Reform UK also means she will face questions about party loyalty. Some people may wonder why she changed sides so quickly.
Her strong statements on crime and integration have already brought criticism. Certain groups and media outlets have accused her of using language that could increase division or even promote Islamophobia. Laila Cunningham answers that as a Muslim woman, she knows the community well and wants it to be safe and successful within British society. She has also received Islamophobic abuse herself, which she says shows the need for honest discussion rather than silence.
Reform UK is still a relatively new party with limited resources compared with Labour or the Conservatives. Building a city-wide campaign in a short time will not be easy.
Why She Could Make the Race Much Closer
Despite these challenges, Laila Cunningham has several advantages:
- She speaks with clarity and confidence at a time when many voters are tired of careful, vague answers.
- Crime and safety are among the top concerns for Londoners. If the issue stays high on the public agenda, her focus could attract support.
- Reform UK is gaining ground in some outer London boroughs and among voters who feel ignored by the main parties.
- Her personal story – immigrant family, mother of seven, former prosecutor – makes her relatable to many different groups.
If she can turn the mayoral contest into a clear choice between “more of the same” and “a fresh approach to safety”, she could take votes from both Labour and Conservative supporters.
Final Thoughts
The 2028 London mayoral election is still a long way off, butLaila Cunningham, aLondon mayoral candidate, has already made herself noticed. Her promise to be a “new sheriff in town” who fights crime without apology speaks to a real sense of frustration among many residents.https://hradecky.denik.cz/
Whether you agree with all her ideas or not, her willingness to discuss difficult subjects openly is refreshing for some and worrying for others. Politics needs strong debate, and Laila Cunningham is certainly bringing that debate to the table.
As the campaign develops, Londoners will have plenty of chances to hear more from her – and to decide whether they want the “new sheriff” she promises to bring.Tommy Robinson Confronts ITV News: Undocumented Migrants and Safety Questions
1 thought on “Laila Cunningham: New Sheriff in Town Challenging Sadiq Khan in the London Mayor Race 2028”