“If You’re Hiding Your Face, It’s Criminal”: Reform UK Candidate’s Burqa Comments Face Backlash

Reform UK's newly announced London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham has triggered a sharp political and community backlash after suggesting that Muslim women wearing the burqa should be subjected to stop and search.

Her remarks, made during a podcast discussion, have drawn criticism from senior politicians and Muslim advocacy groups, who argue that the comments risk deepening social divisions in the capital.

Cunningham's remarks on face coverings and identity

Cunningham argued that covering one's face has no place in what she described as an open society. She claimed that concealment should automatically raise suspicion, saying, "It has to be assumed that if you're hiding your face, you're hiding it for a criminal reason."

During the podcast, she also described cultural changes in certain parts of the city, stating, "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 went on to argue for cultural uniformity, insisting there should be "one civic culture" and that it "should be British."

Background of the Reform UK candidate

Cunningham, who is a British-born Muslim of Egyptian descent, was named as Reform UK's candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election last week. Her comments have attracted particular attention because of her own background, with critics saying this has not softened the impact of her remarks on Muslim communities.

Sadiq Khan warns against divisive politics

London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded by warning that such rhetoric weakens the city rather than strengthening it. He said politicians who "sow division" undermine London's core values, adding that the capital's strength lies in its diversity and freedom of religion.

Strong backlash from Muslim leaders and Labour MPs

Shaista Gohir, chief executive of the Muslim Women's Network UK, condemned Cunningham's comments as "dangerous" and described them as a "dog whistle" to racists. The Guardian quoted Gohir saying that despite Cunningham's background, she 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."

Labour MP Afzal Khan, who represents Manchester Rusholme, also criticised the remarks. He was quoted by The Guardian describing them as a "deliberate and cynical ploy," adding, "This is all about divisive ideas being pumped into the society deliberately for electoral benefits."