British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has condemned individuals associated with Reform UK over racial attacks targeting her Nigerian heritage, accusing them of attempting to undermine her political credibility through personal insults.
Badenoch insisted that efforts to use her background against her would fail, arguing that racial prejudice should have no place in British politics.
She made the remarks during an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, following a series of social media attacks by Raheem Kassam, a former senior aide to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Kassam, who previously served as editor-in-chief of Breitbart News, had questioned Badenoch’s credibility and repeatedly made disparaging comments about her Nigerian background.
In one post, he described her as a “Nigerian scammer” and warned social media users against sharing their financial information with her.
Reacting to the attacks, Badenoch accused Reform UK figures of concentrating on personal criticism rather than addressing the economic and social challenges facing people across Britain.
She suggested that references to her race were being used as a political tactic by individuals seeking to improve their public standing.
“I think they think that maybe using my race is a way for them to improve their standing.
“Britain is not a racist country, and because it’s not a racist country, their racist attacks and using my race as an attack form is not going to work,” she said.
The controversy has also placed Reform UK under scrutiny over its response to Kassam’s remarks, particularly following comments by the party’s Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick.
During an interview with ITV, Jenrick was asked whether he considered Kassam’s statements racist.
He rejected that description but acknowledged that the comments could be regarded as unpleasant and rude.
“It’s not my place to police everybody’s tweets who may or may not be a supporter of Reform,” he said.
Jenrick also referred to a separate controversy surrounding Badenoch’s claim that she received an offer from Stanford University at the age of 16 to attend a pre-medical course.
Badenoch has maintained that the offer was genuine but acknowledged that she no longer has the relevant documents to support her account.
Farage also defended Kassam during an appearance on BBC Breakfast, arguing that references to Badenoch’s childhood in Nigeria did not amount to racism.
The Reform UK leader later described the remarks as excessive but maintained that he did not believe they were deliberately racist.
Meanwhile, a Labour Party spokesman faulted Jenrick for not denouncing the remarks, stressing that rejecting racism should go beyond party loyalties and uphold fundamental standards of respect and decency.
The controversy unfolds as Reform UK and the Conservatives step up their campaigns to gain public support, with Farage’s party targeting voters who once supported the Conservatives.
Badenoch, born in London and raised partly in Nigeria, assumed leadership of the Conservative Party in November 2024.
Goodness Anunobi
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