UK Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch launched a scathing attack against Reform UK on Wednesday, warning figures within the rival party against publicly questioning national identity or debating the heritage of her mixed-race children.
Delivering her keynote address at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Badenoch who has Nigerian Parents, directly condemned the political movement led by Nigel Farage, accusing its figures of attempting to drag national political discourse backward.
“I don’t want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists, call veterans ‘traitors’ and debate whether my mixed-race children are English,” Badenoch told party members.
“We must not let these people take us backwards. That is not the country we are.”
The sharp rebuke followed recent comments by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK earlier this year—suggesting during an appearance on the BBC’s Question Time that British Asians like herself cannot claim English identity due to heritage.
Badenoch rejected the premise that ethnic background precludes national belonging, invoking iconic Black English footballers Ian Wright and John Barnes to illustrate her argument that national identity should remain inclusive.
“I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but I am Black. I am British. I’m proud of my country, I’m proud of our history,” Badenoch stated. “Reform MPs are openly questioning people’s identity. They are not like us; we are not like them. We are different.”
Reiterating her firm opposition to electoral pacts or alliances with Reform UK despite calls from certain right-leaning factions to consolidate political forces, Badenoch drew a definitive line between the two parties.
Appearing on Times Radio earlier Wednesday, Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice declined to directly address the dispute, characterizing debates surrounding national identity as “a complete waste of time” while insisting his party remains focused on economic growth, deregulation, and lowering household costs.
