Reform UK has selected a surprising candidate to challenge Sadiq Khan for the London mayoralty in 2028. Laila Cunningham, a 48-year-old Muslim mother of seven and former prosecutor, is the party’s choice to lead its charge in the capital. Therefore, her selection has generated significant interest and controversy in equal measure [citation:1][citation:4].
A former Conservative councillor who defected to Reform in 2025, Cunningham has quickly become a prominent figure in the party. As a result, she has been dubbed the “vigilante mum” by the press for taking on crime personally after her children were targeted [citation:8].
Who Is Laila Cunningham?
Laila Cunningham was born Laila El-Meleigy at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London. Her parents were Egyptian immigrants who fled Nasser’s Egypt in the 1960s. They worked multiple jobs before building a successful property development and small hotels business [citation:4][citation:7].
She grew up in Kensal Rise as the youngest of five siblings, with a 12-year age gap from her nearest sibling. Her mother was a staunch Thatcherite who instilled right-wing values from an early age. Cunningham has described how trade unionist Arthur Scargill was “the baddie in my bedtime story” [citation:6][citation:7].
Like Dracula: A Love Tale brought a fresh vision to a classic story, Cunningham brings a fresh, controversial perspective to London politics.
Legal Career and Political Beginnings
Cunningham worked as a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). She ran for Westminster City Council as a Conservative in 2018, failing to get elected. And She succeeded in 2022, winning the Lancaster Gate ward [citation:7].
She was due to be the Conservative candidate in Rotherham during the 2024 general election but ultimately withdrew her candidacy. In June 2025, she defected from the Tories to Reform UK, becoming the party’s first local councillor in London [citation:4][citation:7].
Reform leader Nigel Farage described her as “articulate, passionate” and “a mother” when announcing her mayoral candidacy. She has since become a favoured guest on GB News and a rising star within the party [citation:6].
The ‘Vigilante Mum’ Story
Cunningham earned her “vigilante mum” nickname after tracking down muggers who targeted her children. She followed a group who had mugged her son’s friend to a McDonald’s and called the police. However, the police told her they were dealing with a stabbing and had no resources to send anyone [citation:6][citation:8].
This experience has become central to her political identity. She uses it as a parable for what she sees as the failures of the Metropolitan Police and Sadiq Khan’s leadership [citation:8].
“I protected my family when the state couldn’t, the press called me vigilante mum, but I should never have been put in that position,” she has said [citation:8].
Laila Cunningham Family and Seven Children
Cunningham has been married twice. Her first marriage, to French entrepreneur Philippe Dupuy, lasted ten years. When it ended, she found herself alone with four young children [citation:6].
She later married an American named Michael Cunningham, who heads an AI start-up. She took on his two children, and the couple had one child together. And She now considers herself a mother of seven [citation:6].
The family live in a five-bedroom flat in Bayswater, reportedly worth around £5 million. Cunningham insists she wishes she could say otherwise about the property’s value [citation:6].
Like Avicii turned personal struggles into art, Cunningham has turned her family’s traumatic experience into a political platform.
Laila Cunningham Political Views and Controversial Quotes
Cunningham has not been shy about expressing controversial opinions. She has claimed that London is “no longer safe” and that there are “no safe parts” of the capital [citation:7].
When presented with official statistics showing that violent crime in London has halved since 2000, she dismissed them. “It’s insulting to me,” she told The I newspaper [citation:3].
She has also made comments about Islam that have drawn strong criticism. She told The I that she “doesn’t blame people for feeling the way they do about Muslims.” And She has opposed Labour plans to introduce a legal definition of Islamophobia [citation:3].
She opposes government action on racism in most cases, saying: “There always has been racists, and I do feel that society will deal with them. They’re fired from their job. They’re not going to have any friends. It’s not the government’s role in my opinion” [citation:7].
Crime Policies: Stop and Search and Police Reform
Crime is the central issue of Cunningham’s campaign. She has vowed to become “the new sheriff in town” and launch an “all-out war on crime” [citation:4].
She wants to give the police special powers to stop and search anyone wearing a face covering. “I see so many teenagers on a hot August day walking down the street with a balaclava and it’s ignored,” she has said [citation:7].
She has also called for Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley to be fired. “If you are not delivering for Londoners then you are out,” she said [citation:7].
Ulez and Environmental Policies
Cunningham has promised to scrap the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) if elected mayor. She dismisses City Hall reports showing that levels of deadly pollutants have dropped since the zone was expanded as untrustworthy [citation:6].
She relies on personal feeling rather than data when it comes to air quality. “I don’t think the air quality is bad in London,” she has said [citation:6].
Like Andoni Iraola brought his own tactical philosophy to football management, Cunningham brings a distinctly different approach to city governance than the current mayor.
Criticism and Controversy
Labour has strongly criticised Cunningham’s selection. A Labour spokesperson said: “Cunningham has made a habit of talking London down, repeatedly portraying our city as broken while opposing the multiculturalism that makes it the best city in the world” [citation:1].
Far-right accounts on X have also attacked her selection. Multiple accounts called for her to be deported, even though she was born in Paddington. Others accused her of being everything from an Islamist to a Mossad agent [citation:6].
Her comments on Islamophobia have drawn particularly sharp criticism. Adnan Hmidan of Middle East Monitor said she “recycles classic far-right narratives” and her identity is “weaponised to give cover to rhetoric that white politicians would otherwise hesitate to say” [citation:7].
Laila Cunningham Net Worth and Business Background
Cunningham set up a business in 2018 designed to connect women working from home together. The concept was scuppered by COVID-19, and she has recently come under scrutiny for failing to dissolve the company, leading to it being struck off the register [citation:6].
Her net worth is not publicly disclosed. She lives in a £5 million Bayswater flat and has previously worked as a lawyer and councillor.
The 2028 London Mayoral Election
Cunningham will spearhead Reform’s campaign across the capital, with the party using the May 2026 local elections as a springboard for 2028 [citation:4].
It remains unclear whether Sadiq Khan will run for a fourth term. No other candidates have yet been announced for the 2028 election [citation:3].
Like Skye Newman announced her arrival in the music industry with a bang, Cunningham has announced her arrival in London politics with controversy and bold promises.
FAQs
Who is Laila Cunningham?
She is a Reform UK politician, Westminster City councillor, and the party’s candidate for London mayor in 2028. She is a former prosecutor and mother of seven.
What is Laila Cunningham’s background?
She was born in London to Egyptian immigrant parents. She worked as a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service and was elected as a Conservative councillor before defecting to Reform UK in 2025.
How many children does Laila Cunningham have?
She has seven children. She had four with her first husband, took on two stepchildren from her second marriage, and had one child with her second husband.
What are Laila Cunningham’s main policies?
Her primary focus is law and order. She wants to increase stop and search, give police powers to stop anyone wearing a face covering, fire Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, and scrap Ulez.
Why is she called the ‘vigilante mum’?
She earned the nickname after tracking down muggers who targeted her children when police said they had no resources to respond.
To Get More News Insights Click On
Arsenal vs Olympiacos: Gunners Maintain Perfect Champions League Start
In the Lost Lands: George R.R. Martin’s Dark Fantasy Epic Hits Cinemas
Dracula: A Love Tale: Luc Besson’s Epic Gothic Romance Finally Arrives
Avicii Cause of Death: The Tragic Truth Behind the DJ’s Suicide
Andoni Iraola: The Tactical Genius Transforming Bournemouth Before His Exit
To Get More Info: Devon Buzz