Kemi Badenoch hits back at “Hysterical” racist abuse since Tory leadership win

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has revealed the scale of racial abuse she has endured since becoming the first Black woman to head the party, describing the attacks as “hysterical.”

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Badenoch disclosed that while some criticism has come from fellow MPs, the overwhelming hostility has been through social media, where she is frequently targeted because of her race and ethnicity.

“I had not expected the level of abuse to be this intense,” she said, noting that online trolls have been relentless since her election as party leader. Despite the vitriol, Badenoch insisted she remains focused on her duties, arguing that the Conservative Party and the country must not be distracted by what she described as “malicious noise.”

Born in Wimbledon but raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at the age of 16, Badenoch has faced scrutiny not only for her political positions but also for her cultural identity. Some critics have accused her of distancing herself from her Nigerian heritage, while others have questioned her identification with the Yoruba tribe.

Prior to her leadership victory, Badenoch had often praised Britain as “the best place in the world for Black people,” but she admitted that the current backlash has forced her to re-examine the challenges of race in public life.

Nevertheless, she maintained that her historic election signals progress. “I know many people who look like me never imagined we’d see this day. That matters more than those who try to tear me down,” she stated.

Her remarks come at a time when the Conservative Party is grappling with declining popularity and increasing pressure from opposition parties. Badenoch’s ability to navigate issues of race, identity, and representation while uniting the Tories ahead of the next general election will likely define her leadership in the coming months.