K Conservative Minister Kemi Badenoch has firmly reiterated that her primary identity is British, despite her Nigerian heritage and early upbringing. Her stance, articulated during a recent appearance on GB News and earlier on the Rosebud podcast, emphasizes a focus on domestic politics and the importance of integration for immigrants.

Kemi Badenoch: British Identity First

Badenoch clarified that her previous remarks were accurately reported, stating, “My main identity is as British. That is what I see myself as.” She distinguished between nationality and ethnicity, noting that “Nigeria is a nationality. It’s not an ethnicity. There’s no such language as Nigerian. There are lots of different ethnic groups there.

She urged politicians to concentrate on issues within the UK, criticizing what she perceives as a distraction by some, particularly Labour MPs, who focus on other countries. “If you come to this country, you need to be very focused on making sure that you integrate. And if you’re a politician, you need to be 100% focused on British issues,” Badenoch asserted.

A Childhood Across Continents

Born in Wimbledon, London, in 1980, Badenoch spent a significant part of her childhood in Nigeria and the United States before returning to the UK at the age of 16. She is notable for being one of the last individuals to receive UK birthright citizenship before the law was altered under Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1981.

Her defense of her identity follows earlier comments on August 1, where she revealed that she has not renewed her Nigerian passport in over 20 years and no longer identifies as Nigerian, despite her ancestral ties and family connections there. Badenoch has also previously made critical remarks about Nigeria, describing it as a place where “fear is everywhere