Nigel Farage sought to woo “London mums” as political parties were ramping up campaigning ahead of the May local elections.
The Reform UK leader argued that his party had struck a chord with many mothers in the capital with its focus on crime and disorder.
But the other political parties strongly rejected Mr Farage’s claims, as polls showed the Greens and to a lesser extent Reform are set to make major gains in the capital in the borough elections.
As hundreds of party canvassers were hitting the city’s streets, “London mums” were being thrust centre stage into the local elections debate, as was the case for “Worcester Woman” at the 1997 general election.
Seeking to win over mothers with less than two weeks before the local elections, Mr Farage told Times Radio: “I'll talk about London specifically on this.
“You know, picking Laila Cunningham as our mayoral candidate to stand against Khan in a couple of years’ time.
“Her, mother-of-seven, teenage kids growing up in central London, and she's expressed her fears for a genuine breakdown of good behaviour, let alone moving on to violent behaviour.”
The Reform leader, who has set his party the goal of winning councils in London, added: “I do think that Laila’s caught quite a chord with a lot of women who increasingly feel that it's just not safe out there for their kids.
“I think crime and fear of crime is a much bigger issue than it's talked about in Parliament or even debated freely in the media.
“I think it's much more present than many people understand.”
But Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, dismissed Mr Farage’s claim that Reform is the best party for mothers in London.
She told the Standard: “Like all global cities, London mums know their children are growing up in a diverse world where they learn and will be working together.
“Reform takes that positivity and hope backwards.”
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has also strongly criticised politicians who he said are painting a “dystopian picture of London as a city that’s fallen”.
Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake argued Mr Farage’s party would “do nothing for mothers in London”.
He added: “His own candidates have said women should stay at home and look after the kids. That tells you everything you need to know about Reform’s priorities.
“The Conservatives are campaigning to ban social media for under-16s to keep young people safe, and will recruit 10,000 more police officers to protect our communities.”
Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat London spokesman and MP for Sutton and Cheam, was stunned by Mr Farage’s stance.
“If Reform are the party for 'London Mums' then I'm the Queen of Sheba,” he said.
“A Reform ‘pro-family' agenda would pressure women out of the workplace all in the name of bringing American-style Handmaid’s Tale politics to Britain.”
The Green Party accused Mr Farage of offering “fake solutions” to the cost-of-living crisis.
Deputy Leader Rachel Millward said: “The Greens message to lower bills, create affordable homes and bring in rent controls is the one that is cutting through in the local elections.”
Dr Anna Muggeridge, a historian of modern Britain at Worcester University, explained how ”Worcester Woman” was identified ahead of the 1997 general election as the potential swing voter.
“There had been attempts by pollsters before to create an archetypal voter, the swing voter who will decide the election,” she said.
“Before this there was ‘Mondeo Man’.
“‘Worcester Woman’ is invented by pollsters as this median voter who might have voted Conservative in the past but was open to the Labour party and ideas they were coming up with in their manifesto.
“There was this belief by pollsters that she was more likely to vote for Tony Blair’s New Labour party, having previously voted Conservative.”
Mr Blair won by a landslide, with Labour’s Mike Foster elected Worcester MP, defeating the Conservatives.
