17/01/2026
Reform UK names Laila Cunningham as London mayoral candidate — and she says Robert Jenrick “played a key role” in Tory government failures and shouldn’t be in her party. 📍🇬🇧
Laila Cunningham’s selection as Reform UK’s candidate for the London mayoral election marks a bold strategic move by the party. The Westminster councillor — a former Crown Prosecution Service lawyer and ex‑Conservative — was unveiled with clear ambitions to make London safer and more accountable under her leadership. She has framed the campaign as a direct challenge to the status quo, saying the capital deserves fresh leadership and sharper focus on crime and public confidence. 
Just days after the announcement, Cunningham’s remarks about fellow politician Robert Jenrick — a newly defected Conservative MP — drew significant attention. She publicly said she didn’t want Jenrick “anywhere near the party,” accusing him of having played a key role in past government failures. That comment highlights larger debates within Reform about the role of former Conservatives in shaping the party’s future. 
Cunningham’s campaign is already stirring discussion across London and national politics. Her law-and-order message is clear, but it comes at a time when Reform UK is navigating its identity amid defections, internal reactions, and the looming 2028 mayoral contest. Critics and supporters alike are watching whether her vision will attract voters or heighten polarization far beyond City Hall.
