Reform candidate says ‘parts of London feel like a Muslim city’ | Politics | News
Ms Cunningham’s comments, who are also Muslim, came as she called for British people to be given priority in social housing allocations in the capital.
Ms Cunningham argued that there was no issue with the amount of Muslims living in the city, but rather that “there should be one civic culture in London, and that is British”.
During a heated argument with the interviewer, he said: “I’m a Muslim and I’m British.”
But his comments sparked an angry response from Labor MP Dawn Butler, who represents the London constituency.
Ms Butler said: “Calling for Muslim women to be stopped and searched simply because of the clothes they wear is discriminatory and dangerous. This is everything London is not. Our city is built on freedom, fairness, respect and acceptance, not profiling people for their beliefs or appearance. Telling women what to wear is patently wrong. Anyone who holds such views is unfit to be Mayor of London and represent this great city.”
At no point in the interview did Ms Cunningham call for people to be stopped and searched because they are Muslims. Instead, he argued that people who cover their faces should be subject to legitimate stop and search powers; He says this attitude is about safety and security, not faith.
The current Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, did not comment when approached by the Daily Express.
The row comes as Reform UK continues its march in British politics, with the party hoping to take control of a number of London councils in elections next May. Ms Cunningham’s comments drew a more measured response from Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall, who ran against Mr Khan in the last mayoral election.
Ms Hall said: “Laila Cunningham – because she was a Conservative at the time – knows that there has long been a Tory policy on social housing that puts the British people first, and it is a policy that my colleagues and I support.
“When it comes to communities in London, we must have a unifying culture and values that we all strive for, whatever our background: like the many tributaries of the River Thames, it shouldn’t matter where we come from if we all flow in the same direction towards the sea. I’m proud of my country and my city, and I want other Londoners to be so too. Everyone who knows me knows that about me, my love of our flags and our history. I want others to love those things too.”
