Kemi Badenoch, leader of Britain’s Conservative Party and its first Black female head, has spoken candidly about enduring racist hostility since her election, calling the backlash both surprising and distressing.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Badenoch, who served as a Culture Secretary, expressed astonishment at the intensity of the abuse she has faced. This surge in personal attacks emerged despite her former praise of 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. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people, it’s hysterical. … But online as well. People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’.”
She added that growing ethno-nationalist sentiment on social media has fueled prejudice against her, touching on her background and perceived legitimacy.
Born in Wimbledon, raised in Nigeria, and returning to the UK at age 16, Badenoch has previously resisted identity-based explanations for her success.
“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that is a healthy way to run a society. … My view is that there are people out there who will throw whatever kind of mud at you and hope that it sticks.”
Facing internal party speculation of a leadership challenge from Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, Badenoch dismissed the rumors:
“I think it’s wishful thinking. There will always be people who are sore losers… When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all. … The lives of people in this country aren’t a game.”
The interview comes at a pivotal moment for her leadership as she prepares for her first party conference speech, with the Conservatives polling at just 17%.
