Badenoch says ‘Nigerian scammer’ remark racist

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has condemned racist attacks against her following remarks from a former aide to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Badenoch said the attacks, referencing her Nigerian background, would not work as she believes Britain is not a racist country. The controversy began when Raheem Kassam, a former senior aide to Farage, posted a series of attacks on social media, calling Badenoch an "unrelenting scammer" and accusing her of using her Nigerian background for career advancement.

Badenoch criticized Reform politicians for attacking her rather than discussing policies to benefit people. Reform’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick declined to condemn Kassam’s remarks, arguing they were unpleasant or rude but not racist. The comments have drawn criticism, with a Labour spokesman stating that calling out racism is a matter of basic decency.

The situation reflects ongoing political tensions between Badenoch’s Conservatives and Reform UK, which has sought to gain support from voters who previously backed the Conservatives.