Kemi Badenoch Fires Back at Racist Attacks Over ‘Nigerian Scammer’ Comment

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has hit back at what she described as racist attacks following a controversial social media remark by Raheem Kassam, a former aide to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who called her a “Nigerian scammer”.

Badenoch accused Reform UK figures of weaponising her Nigerian background for political gain, warning that attempts to use her race against her would ultimately fail.

Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, the British opposition leader responded to a series of posts published by Kassam, who previously served as editor-in-chief of Breitbart News.

Kassam had referred to Badenoch as an “unrelenting scammer” before making another post that attracted widespread attention.

“How are people still falling for this Nigerian scammer? Don’t give her your credit card number and bank account details!” he wrote.

Reacting to the remarks, Badenoch said they reflected the character of those behind the attacks.

“I think it just shows the sort of people they are,” she said.

“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.”

The row has also put Reform UK under scrutiny over its handling of the controversy, particularly after Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick refused to describe Kassam’s comments as racist.

Speaking during an ITV interview, Jenrick said he did not consider the remarks racist, although he accepted that they could be viewed as unpleasant or rude.

“It’s not my place to police everybody’s tweets who may or may not be a supporter of Reform,” he stated.

Farage had similarly faced questions about the controversy during an earlier appearance on BBC Breakfast.

Defending the distinction between referring to Badenoch’s Nigerian upbringing and making a racist remark, he said: “I don’t think saying somebody grew up in Nigeria is racist.”

However, Farage later conceded that Kassam’s comments were excessive, while insisting that they were not deliberately racist.

“Do I think the comment was over the top? Yes, I do. Do I think it was intentionally racist? No, I don’t,” he added.

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