Farage adviser Raheem Kassam attacks Kemi Badenoch with racist slur, prompting Tory backlash
Raheem Kassam, a longtime aide to Nigel Farage, posted on X calling Kemi Badenoch a “Nigerian scammer,” leading Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake to demand clarification of Kassam’s role in Reform UK.
Raheem Kassam, a veteran adviser to Nigel Farage, used X to label Treasury minister Kemi Badenoch a “Nigerian scammer,” questioning her credibility and urging the public not to share financial information with her. He also posted questions about her immigration status, employing her full name Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake condemned the comments as racist slurs and pressed Farage to clarify Kassam’s exact function in Reform UK, asking whether he is paid, an informal adviser, or influences communications and strategy.
Reform UK maintains that Kassam holds no official position, even though he was seen at the party’s London office last week. The controversy arrives amid an ITV undercover investigation that revealed several Reform councillors and candidates making overtly racist remarks, raising concerns about the party’s vetting process. Badenoch has recently gained voter support after denouncing Reform MPs for promoting a view that only white people can be truly English. The episode highlights ongoing tensions between Reform UK and the Conservative Party over accusations of ethno-nationalism.
Why it matters
The exchange underscores intra-right tensions in the UK and raises questions about extremist rhetoric within a growing political party.
How this story developed
- Sep 29 Andy Burnham signals possible UK return to the EU after condemning Brexit
- Sep 29 Labour leader Andy Burnham delivered his first conference speech, unveiling policy proposals on public ownership, pensions, and electoral reform.
- Sep 30 The Prime Minister now says re‑joining the EU is among the options the government will consider.
- Sep 30 Burnham signaled that full EU membership is among the possible routes Labour could evaluate.
- Oct 3 A new poll shows half of British adults now support rejoining the EU.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
- Oct 6 Announced a cut to employer National Insurance for 21‑ to 24‑year‑olds from 15% to 7.5%.
- Oct 7 Badenoch announced a defence spending target of 3% of GDP.
- Oct 8 Badenoch denounced Reform UK as ethnically exclusive at the conference.
- Oct 8 Burnham announced that the pension triple‑lock will be scrapped after the next general election and its savings will fund a National Care Service.
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