UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Faces Surge in Racist Abuse

Kemi Badenoch, the first Black woman to lead the UK Conservative Party, has revealed her shock at the volume of racist abuse she has endured since her election, describing it as "Kemi derangement syndrome." She acknowledged that while only a few Conservative MPs were involved in personal attacks, the vast majority of hostility has come from online spaces where ethno-nationalist rhetoric is rising. Despite the abuse, Badenoch continues to affirm her belief that Britain is "the best place in the world to be Black" and rejects the notion that race should be the default explanation for challenges she faces. Born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, she rarely speaks extensively about her heritage and has criticized anti-racism campaigners and critical race theory. Badenoch highlighted that many critics use racist tropes suggesting she could not have achieved her position without external help due to her ethnicity. As she prepares for her first party conference speech, Badenoch faces a defining period leading the Conservative Party amid these challenges.