Kemi’s ratings rise with Reform voters after she attacks party in ‘only whites can be English’ row
Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of Reform figures who questioned whether people with migrant backgrounds can be English appears to have won support from some Reform voters. After viewers saw a clip of her conference speech defending her mixed-race children’s English identity, her approval among Reform voters rose, while the row prompted Nigel Farage to warn colleagues against making such comparisons.
More in Common found Badenoch’s overall approval among people shown the clip increased from 37 to 46 per cent; among Reform voters, it rose from 40 to 57 per cent. The dispute followed Suella Braverman’s comments about her own Englishness and drew attention to ethno-nationalist views within parts of Reform. Badenoch said she was proud of Britain and its history, and Andy Burnham praised her for challenging suggestions that her children were not British.
- Badenoch’s approval among Reform voters rose from 40% to 57% after her speech.
- Her remarks challenged claims that only white people can be English.
- Farage reportedly warned colleagues the row could harm Reform.
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Kemi Badenoch leads the Conservative Party, while Nigel Farage leads Reform UK. The parties compete for voters on the right of British politics, including people concerned about immigration and national identity.
The row centres on who can be considered English or British. Badenoch, whose children are mixed-race, said their migrant family background did not make them any less English; comments by some Reform figures questioned whether people with such backgrounds could be English. The dispute has drawn attention to differing views within Reform about national identity.