Reform UK’s mayoral candidate for London has been condemned after saying that women who wear the burqa in public should be subject to stop and search.
Laila Cunningham, who will be Reform’s candidate in the capital’s election in 2028, sparked a significant backlash after telling the Standard that she would act to ban the wearing of the religious garment in public.
“It has to be assumed that if you’re hiding your face, you’re hiding it for a criminal reason,” she said, without providing evidence.
Crossbench peer Baroness Shaista Gohia hit out at the Reform candidate, telling the Guardian her comments were “dangerous” and a “dog whistle” to racists.
Baroness Gohir, who is the CEO of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, told the newspaper her charity has been forced to remove signage outside its offices and picture profiles of staff because of a sharp rise in the number of abusive and threatening letters and emails.
She said Ms Cunningham was “sending a message to Muslims that they do not belong” and “emboldening people who already abuse Muslims and influencing those people who are reading this misinformation”.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, has previously been accused by more than 20 former school pupils at Dulwich College of making “racist, antisemitic and fascist” remarks as a pupil.
Ms Cunningham, a British-born Muslim and the daughter of first-generation immigrants from Egypt, also told the Standard’s podcast: “If you go to parts of London, it does feel like a Muslim city. The signs are written in a different language. You’ve got burqas being sold in markets.” She said there should be “one civic culture” and it “should be British”.
Asked about the Reform candidate’s comments on LBC on Friday, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said political figures were “trying to sow seeds of division”.
He added: “Almost without argument, our city is the greatest in the world because of our diversity... Why would you stop somebody practising their religion?
“I mean, how far back do you want to go in terms of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and so forth? These are quintessentially British rights that we’re so proud of.
“There are two types of politicians: those that play on people’s fears, and those that address people’s fears.”
Following Ms Cunningham’s proposals to ban the burqa in public, Sir Sadiq said women should have the “freedom to choose” what to wear.
Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, told the Guardian that Ms Cunningham’s comments were a “deliberate and cynical ploy”.
He added: “This is all about divisive ideas being pumped into society deliberately for electoral benefits.”
A Reform spokesperson said: “Reform UK believes stop-and-search powers are essential in tackling London’s escalating law and order problem. We also believe police should not have to worry about being accused of being prejudiced when carrying out these duties.”
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