Kemi Badenoch Hits Back at Reform Over Debate About Whether Her Mixed-Race Children Are 'English'

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch poses with her husband Hamish Badenoch following her speech at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham (Credit: X/KemiBadenoch)

Kemi Badenoch delivered her keynote address at the Conservative Party Autumn Conference in Birmingham on 7 October 2026. Her speech took a personal turn when she discussed how Reform UK figures were questioning Britons' identities because of the colour of their skin.

'I don't want to live in a country run by people who threaten journalists, who call veterans traitors, and debate whether my mixed-race children are English,' said Badenoch, who was born Olukemi Olufunto 'Kemi' Adegoke in Wimbledon, London, to parents of Nigerian origin.