Nigel Farage's Reform UK has unveiled its candidate to take on the London mayoralty in 2028, selecting Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham to lead its charge in the capital.
A New Challenger Enters the Fray
The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday 7 January 2026, where party figurehead Nigel Farage presented Cunningham as the "face of our campaign" in London. Farage described her as a passionate and articulate representative for the party.
In her first remarks as the confirmed candidate, Cunningham launched a direct attack on the record of the current Mayor, Sadiq Khan. She positioned the upcoming local council elections in May 2026 as a referendum on Khan's leadership, claiming they would showcase widespread dissatisfaction among Londoners.
Focus on Crime and a Broken Status Quo
Cunningham centred her criticism on crime trends in the capital, asserting that London had become a city where gangsters could "operate freely." She promised a dramatic shift in approach, declaring: "There will be a new sheriff in town and I will be launching an all-out war on crime."
She urged voters to use the May elections to remove councillors who, in her view, had propped up the Mayor's administration. Taking aim at both major parties, she stated Reform would not defend a status quo that does not work simply to secure votes.
An Uphill Battle in a Labour-Leaning City
Reform UK faces significant challenges in winning over London, a city that has consistently leaned towards Labour in recent electoral cycles. Despite leading the Conservatives in some national polls, Reform trails in London-specific surveys.
Recent City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling illustrates the scale of the task. It places Reform on just 13 per cent of the voter share in London, behind the Conservatives on 28 per cent and Labour, which leads the pack on 34 per cent.
Farage used the platform to criticise previous Tory mayoral candidates, Shaun Bailey and Susan Hall, suggesting their selections were missteps. Cunningham framed the next mayoral contest as a direct showdown: "Khan v Cunningham."
While Sadiq Khan has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a historic fourth term, the same recent poll indicated that three in five London voters believe he should not run again. Cunningham will first lead Reform's campaign for the London-wide council elections this spring, a crucial test of her and the party's appeal in the capital.
