‘I’m Under Attack Over My Race and Ethnicity’ – UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Cries Out

Conservative leader decries wave of racist abuse following 

Kemi Badenoch, the first Black woman to lead the U.K. Conservative Party, has spoken candidly about the racism she has faced since her election, admitting she was surprised by the intensity of the abuse.

In an interview, Badenoch said she did not anticipate such hostility, despite previously describing Britain as “the best place in the world to be Black.”

“There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this and I’m doing it,” she said. “The level of personal attacks from anonymous people is hysterical. It’s not even mainly from MPs—maybe two or three out of 120. The rest is online. People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’”

She highlighted a rise in ethno-nationalist sentiment on social media, noting: “There’s a lot of stuff about my race and ethnicity, with the typical tropes implying I couldn’t have achieved this on my own.”

Born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the U.K. at age 16, Badenoch rarely discusses her heritage in depth. She has said she no longer feels Nigerian and has frequently criticised anti-racism campaigners and critical race theory.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that’s a healthy approach,” she told the Sunday Times. “A few years ago, I said Britain is not a racist country—ethnic minorities do very well here, and it is white working-class boys who are struggling on a lot of metrics. I was pilloried for that. My view is that some people will throw whatever mud they can at you and hope it sticks.”

Badenoch now faces a critical period as party leader, preparing for her first conference speech while addressing speculation that Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick could challenge her leadership amid Conservative polling at just 17%.

On reports that Jenrick may attempt a takeover, she said: “I think it’s wishful thinking. There will always be sore losers, people whose candidate didn’t win, and those with sour grapes. Many of those having these conversations see this as a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game.”