Reform candidate blames Labour for dividing Londoners

Laila Cunningham, Reform UK's candidate for London Mayor in 2028, has stated that the Labour party has divided London's communities and pitted them against each other. Ms Cunningham, who was unveiled as the party's hopeful in January, claimed the ruling party has failed to foster unity among different ethnic groups and blamed them for rising hate crime figures in the capital.

Rising Hate Crime Figures

Figures from the Metropolitan Police indicate that racist hate crimes in London increased by 9 per cent in the past 12 months, with nearly 18,000 reported offences. Last month, reports also highlighted that anti-Muslim hate incidents have increased sixfold in the capital since 2021. New figures also show that antisemitic incidents recorded across the UK this year are up by a fifth compared to last year, with a series of attacks occurring in London.

Ms Cunningham, who is Muslim and was born in London to Egyptian parents, attributed the situation to the government's approach to different communities. She told MyLondon's The London Brief podcast: "What Labour have done is divide the city along ethnic and religious lines. They've gone to like the Muslim community and said this country is Islamophobic, it's oppressed you, [and that] only Labour has got your back. They've gone to the Black community and said it's racist, only we've got your back."

She added that this approach does not foster unity but instead pitches different demographics and groups against each other. Ms Cunningham stated: "We are all Londoners. When I grew up, I had friends from all walks of life, all different ethnicities, and nobody asked what religion you are - nobody cared."

Pride in British Culture

Ms Cunningham expressed a desire for pride in British culture and London as the capital of the United Kingdom. She believes that the focus should be on shared identity and future aspirations rather than divisive policies. "There is one culture and that is a British culture, and we are the capital of the United Kingdom, and we must be proud of that," she said.

She also commented on the visibility of national flags, suggesting that the Greater London Authority should promote messages of national and capital city pride. Ms Cunningham drew a comparison with Washington D.C., where she observed flags displayed prominently, indicating a sense of national pride.