Laila Cunningham warns new London mayor rival James Cleverly could be ‘another Sadiq Khan’

Reform UK London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham has warned Sir James Cleverly could become another Sadiq Khan after the former Home Secretary announced his bid for the capital. According to GB News, Cunningham hit back at suggestions that highlighting London’s problems amounts to talking the city down.

Speaking to GB News following the announcement that Sir James was quitting Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet, Mrs Cunningham delivered a sharp snap reaction. Sir James had earlier told The Times that other parties “simply amplify every criticism of the capital, talking it down without offering a credible plan”.

Mrs Cunningham rejected that accusation directly.

Interestingly, he says I’m talking it down because if you don’t admit there’s a problem, then you don’t fix it.

— Laila Cunningham, Reform UK Mayoral Candidate, GB News

The Reform candidate questioned whether her new Conservative opponent would address rising crime.

Is he going to be another Sadiq Khan that just ignores what’s going on on our streets and just says it’s the safest it’s ever been?

— Laila Cunningham, Reform UK Mayoral Candidate, GB News

Pointing to polling showing the Conservatives trailing Reform in London, Mrs Cunningham asserted she was the main challenger.

He keeps saying that he can beat Labour. According to the latest poll, he’ll have to try and beat me first.

— Laila Cunningham, Reform UK Mayoral Candidate, GB News

Defending her credentials against claims of lacking a plan, Mrs Cunningham emphasised her personal stake in the capital.

I was born and raised here. My kids, you know, I’m raising six children here. They’ve all been victims of crime. You know, I’ve been a victim of crime. It’s my home. Of course I have a desire to fix it. Why wouldn’t I, even if I wasn’t running for mayor?

— Laila Cunningham, Reform UK Mayoral Candidate, GB News

Sir James Cleverly has stated that London possesses huge opportunities and extraordinary reserves of talent, entering a contest that could feature multiple established political figures alongside outsider challengers.

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