Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, has cautioned that Britain’s tradition of acceptance is at risk of erosion from individuals at “both extremes” of the political spectrum.
The Conservative minister highlighted that those who depict the UK as an unfriendly place for ethnic minorities, alongside advocates of ethno-nationalism, are both fueling social division.
She stressed the importance of confronting both narratives to prevent future generations from living in a society as segregated as apartheid-era South Africa.
Speaking on the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast, Badenoch shared her personal experience, saying she did not face “meaningful” prejudice after moving permanently from Nigeria to the UK.
Born in Wimbledon to Nigerian parents—a professor mother and doctor father—she was raised in Lagos before relocating to Britain as a teenager.
When asked if she became aware of her “blackness” upon moving to the UK, Badenoch responded, “Never. I think that made me somewhat of an outlier.”
She explained, “I knew I would look different, but I didn’t see that as strange. What surprised me was that people didn’t treat me differently. That’s why I am quick to defend the UK against accusations of racism.”
While acknowledging that prejudice exists for many, Badenoch reflected on only a few minor incidents in school that she now suspects were prejudice, such as teachers suggesting she aim for less prestigious universities—a phenomenon she describes as the “soft bigotry of lower expectations.” However, she believed these were often well-intentioned rather than deliberately discriminatory.
Having moved to the UK permanently at age 16 in 1996 due to Nigeria’s economic turmoil, Badenoch warned that social cohesion in Britain could deteriorate.
The mother of three said, “It would be a dereliction of duty to leave a worse world for my children.”
She added, “My children are mixed-race. Maintaining a society where skin colour matters no more than eye or hair colour is crucial. The UK has done an excellent job, but that progress is threatened by extremists on both sides.”
Badenoch criticized those who portray the UK as hostile to ethnic minorities, saying they have caused significant harm. At the same time, she condemned the rise of ethno-nationalism, where people suggest those with different skin colours don’t belong.
“I don’t want my children to grow up in a society like apartheid South Africa, where segregation was the norm, and skin colour was a defining factor,” she said.
Reflecting on her early life, Badenoch revealed the lasting impact of a challenging upbringing in Nigeria.
“My toughest experience was being sent away to a harsh boarding school where I had to fetch water from a borehole. My soft baby hands became calloused—I think they still are, even after 35 years.”
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