“He Is Responsible”: Reform UK’s Laila Cunningham Blames Khan for London Crime Surge

Summary: Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham used a party rally speech to accuse Mayor Sadiq Khan of presiding over a worsening crime situation in the capital, arguing that Londoners have become “accustomed” to serious violence and that policing priorities have drifted away from frontline visibility.

What Laila Cunningham said at the Reform UK London rally

Speaking at a Reform UK rally in London, Cunningham claimed public fear has risen because the city is “more dangerous” and argued that repeated reports of violence are being treated as routine.

“Londoners are scared because London is more dangerous… we’ve become accustomed to it. That’s not normal.”

She referenced reports of multiple stabbings on Edgware Road “this week” and said the public reaction is increasingly resigned.

Cunningham also attacked the Mayor’s public messaging on crime, saying it conflicted with what she described as residents’ lived experience.

“And he still tells us, ‘My fight against crime is working.’”

Claims about policing, stop and search, and priorities

Cunningham’s speech focused on policing visibility and the use of stop and search, describing visible patrols as “basically nonexistent” and claiming stop and search had been “halved.”

“Any of you see a police when you walk down the street? Stop and search halved…”

She argued that stop and search plays a role in preventing knife crime, and suggested reductions would be felt on the streets.

Cunningham also criticised what she framed as a shift in police activity away from crime prevention.

“He diverts officers into policing tweets. Mums and pops at home instead of the streets.”

Direct accountability: Khan’s role and the City Hall debate

The sharpest section of Cunningham’s remarks was aimed at accountability, arguing the Mayor is not simply observing events but bears responsibility through City Hall’s oversight structures.

“He is the Police and Crime Commissioner. He appoints the Met Commissioner. He sets the priorities. He signs off the budget.”

She concluded that the “chaos” and “danger” were “because of him,” placing responsibility on the Mayor’s leadership and policing governance.

In London politics, the Mayor’s policing role is often a focal point because City Hall sets the strategic direction for policing and holds senior leadership to account, while operational decisions remain with the Metropolitan Police.

Identity politics allegation and the wider campaign framing

Cunningham also alleged that criticism of crime levels is being dismissed through identity-based arguments, saying this approach is unfair to victims and residents concerned about safety.

“He calls us racist… That’s what it all comes down to for him. Identity politics, and that’s an insult to victims.”

This line of attack signals how Reform UK may seek to frame the London contest: linking public safety to governance, messaging, and institutional priorities rather than treating crime as a purely policing problem.

The comments are likely to intensify debate over policing tactics, performance measures, and whether Londoners feel safer, issues that typically cut across party lines but become highly charged during mayoral campaigns.