Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the Conservative Party, has stated that she no longer identifies as Nigerian and has not renewed her Nigerian passport since the early 2000s.
Born in the UK, Ms. Badenoch spent her formative years in both Nigeria and the United States. At the age of 16, she returned to England, citing Nigeria’s deteriorating political and economic landscape, as well as the pursuit of her education, as primary factors.
During an appearance on “Rosebud,” a podcast hosted by former Member of Parliament Gyles Brandreth, Ms. Badenoch described herself as “Nigerian through ancestry” but clarified that “by identity, I’m not really”.
Last year, Ms. Badenoch faced criticism from the Vice-President of Nigeria, who alleged that she had “denigrated” the West African nation.
Ms. Badenoch, who previously resided in Lagos, provided extensive details about her upbringing on the podcast.
“I know the country very well, I have a lot of family there, and I’m very interested in what happens there,” she stated. “But home is where my now family is.”
Regarding her decision not to renew her Nigerian passport, she explained, “I don’t identify with it anymore. Most of my life has been in the UK, and I’ve just never felt the need to.”
She further elaborated, “I’m Nigerian through ancestry, by birth, despite not being born there because of my parents… but by identity, I’m not really.”
Ms. Badenoch recounted that upon visiting Nigeria after her father’s passing, she was required to obtain a visa, a process she described as “a big fandango.”
She attributed her early experiences in Nigeria to shaping her political perspectives, including “why I don’t like socialism.”
As a child, “I remember never quite feeling that I belonged there,” she recalled, adding that she remembered “coming back to the UK in 1996 thinking: this is home”.
The Tory leader added the reason she returned to the UK was “a very sad one”.
“It was that my parents thought: ‘There is no future for you in this country’.”
She stated that she had not experienced racial prejudice in the UK “in any meaningful form”, adding: “I knew I was going to a place where I would look different to everybody, and I didn’t think that that was odd.
“What I found actually quite interesting was that people didn’t treat me differently, and it’s why I’m so quick to defend the UK whenever there are accusations of racism.”
Late last year, Ms. Badenoch faced criticism for stating that she had grown up in an environment of fear and insecurity in Nigeria, during a period characterized by widespread corruption.
In response, Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima asserted that his government was “proud” of Ms. Badenoch “in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.” A spokesperson for Ms. Badenoch subsequently refuted the criticism.
The former foreign secretary becomes shadow housing secretary and will face Angela Rayner in Parliament.
A cabinet minister said people on “modest” incomes will be protected from tax rises, but the Tories say ministers can’t explain who they are.
Conservative leader tells the BBC there needs to be a “crack down on people exploiting the system”.
The freeze means people risk being dragged into a higher tax band if they get a pay rise.
Ministers are scrambling to convince Labour MPs to back benefits cuts in a vote this evening.