London Mayoral candidates outline 2028 election platforms

Candidates for the 2028 London Mayoral election have begun outlining their platforms. Alex Challoner, a businessman running for the Conservative Party, has pledged to combat fare evasion by stationing uniformed British Transport Police at Tube ticket gates and training TfL staff to intervene. His housing proposal involves replacing the current London Plan with a streamlined 30-page document to encourage development. Additionally, he has proposed slashing VAT on gym memberships and removing it for independent brewers.

Laila Cunningham, representing Reform UK, has proposed a technology-driven approach to governance, describing her vision as running London “like Tokyo on steroids.” Her platform includes using AI to streamline planning for housebuilding, automating the Tube network, and eliminating police paperwork to increase frontline presence. Cunningham, a former prosecutor, has criticized the current administration's record on crime, arguing that residents do not feel safe due to issues such as theft and robbery.