Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate condemned over ‘dangerous’ burqa cease and search feedback | EUROtoday

Reform UK’s mayoral candidate for London has been condemned after saying that girls who put on the burqa in public needs to be topic to cease and search.

Laila Cunningham, who will likely be Reform’s candidate within the capital’s election in 2028, sparked a major backlash after telling the Standard that she would act to ban the carrying of the spiritual garment in public.

“It has to be assumed that if you’re hiding your face, you’re hiding it for a criminal reason,” she mentioned, with out offering proof.

Cross-bench peer Baroness Shaista Gohia hit out on the Reform candidate, telling the Guardian her feedback had been “dangerous” and a “dog whistle” to racists.

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Baroness Gohir, who’s the CEO of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, advised the newspaper her charity has been compelled to take away signage exterior its places of work and movie profiles of workers due to a pointy rise within the variety of abusive and threatening letters and emails.

She mentioned Ms Cunningham was “sending a message to Muslims that they do not belong” and “emboldening people who already abuse Muslims and influencing those people who are reading this misinformation”.

Reform UK’s chief, Nigel Farage, has beforehand been accused by greater than 20 former college pupils at Dulwich College of constructing “racist, antisemitic and fascist” remarks as a pupil.

Ms Cunningham, a British-born Muslim and the daughter of first-generation immigrants from Egypt additionally advised The Standard’s podcast: “If you go to parts of London, it does feel like a Muslim city. The signs are written in a different language. You’ve got burqas being sold in markets.” She mentioned there needs to be “one civic culture” and it “should be British”.

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Asked in regards to the Reform candidate’s feedback on LBC on Friday, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan mentioned political figures had been “trying to sow seeds of division.”

He mentioned: “Almost without argument, our city is the greatest in the world because of our diversity… Why would you stop somebody practising their religion?

“I mean, how far back do you want to go in terms of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and so forth? These are quintessentially British rights that we’re so proud of.

“There are two types of politicians: those that play on people’s fears, and those that address people’s fears.”

Following Ms Cunningham’s proposals to ban the burka in public, Sir Sadiq mentioned girls ought to have the “freedom to choose” what to put on.

Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, advised the Guardian that Ms Cunningham’s feedback had been a “deliberate and cynical ploy”.

He added: “This is all about divisive ideas being pumped into the society deliberately for electoral benefits.”

A Reform spokesman mentioned: “Reform UK believes stop and search powers are essential in tackling the London’s escalating law and order problem. We also believe police should not have to worry about being accused of being prejudiced when carrying out these duties.”