UK Conservative Party leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has pointed to her experiences in Nigeria as part of her motivation to safeguard Britain’s values and future. In an interview with Mail Online, the British Nigerian politician stated that she wants to keep the UK from becoming like “the place [she] ran away from,” explaining that her goal is to ensure a better, more stable Britain for coming generations.
“This is my country. I love it the way it is. I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from. I want it to get better and better, not just for me, but for the next generation,” Badenoch commented, referencing her desire to maintain what she views as key British values.
Reflecting on her childhood in Nigeria, Badenoch shared that it was marked by a sense of unease, including memories of nearby residents facing night-time disturbances. These experiences, she says, inform her perspective on how she hopes to guide the UK as a leader within the Conservative Party.
Badenoch’s remarks underscore her commitment to what she sees as protecting British society from challenges she associates with her Nigerian upbringing, a perspective she brings into her leadership bid as she vies to succeed former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.