About our Laila Cunningham news
Latest news on Laila Cunningham, Reform UK London mayoral candidate, Westminster councillor, former CPS prosecutor, British politician.
Laila Cunningham is a British politician who represents the Lancaster Gate ward on Westminster City Council for Reform UK. A former Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor with a background in criminal law, she has emerged as a prominent figure in Reform UK's efforts to expand its presence in London politics. Born in the capital to Egyptian parents who emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s, Cunningham is Muslim and a mother of seven children.
Cunningham was elected to Westminster City Council in 2022 as a Conservative Party candidate, making her mark in local politics with a focus on law and order issues. In June 2025, she defected to Reform UK, becoming the party's first representative on a London borough council. Her switch came after expressing dissatisfaction with the Conservative government's handling of taxation and immigration policy. The move proved controversial, with her resignation from the Crown Prosecution Service immediately accepted after she made political comments whilst still serving as a prosecutor.
As Reform UK's candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election—announced in January 2026—Cunningham has positioned herself as a challenger focused primarily on crime and public safety. She has pledged to scrap the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), rewrite London's police and crime plan, and launch what she describes as an "all-out war on crime" with priorities including knife crime, drugs, and violent offences. Her campaign targets current Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan's record on crime and the cost of living, though Khan has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a fourth term.
Beyond politics, Cunningham's personal story reflects the immigrant experience and social mobility in modern Britain. After a divorce from her first husband, she set up an app called Kitchin Table to help self-employed women create working groups in their homes. She has spoken about experiences of Islamophobic abuse and the challenges of balancing her identity as a British Muslim with her political positions. Her seven children—four from her first marriage and three from her second marriage to an American—represent what she describes as her motivation for seeking to improve London's safety and affordability.
Cunningham's political trajectory mirrors broader debates about immigration, integration, and national identity in contemporary Britain. Born to parents who fled what she characterised as a near-communist Egypt, she has expressed admiration for Margaret Thatcher and attributes her political outlook partly to her mother's support for the Conservative Party. Her positions on immigration and crime have drawn both support and criticism, with some viewing her as an authentic voice on integration issues and others questioning the rhetoric she employs on these subjects.
Whether you support or oppose her views, staying informed about Laila Cunningham's political activities and policy positions is essential for anyone interested in London politics and the evolving landscape of British political movements. Our NewsNow feed on Laila Cunningham provides comprehensive, up-to-date coverage from reliable sources, ensuring you have access to the latest developments in her campaign and political career as the 2028 London mayoral election approaches.