Kemi Badenoch: ‘UK’s wealth isn’t from white privilege and colonialism’

Kemi Badenoch said the narrative would stunt the country’s future economic success. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

It would be wrong to attribute the UK’s wealth and economic success to its colonial history or racial privilege, the business and trade minister, Kemi Badenoch, has told an audience in the City.

Addressing financial services bosses at TheCityUK’s international conference in London, the business secretary said the UK’s past exploitation and oppression of other countries and groups of people could not sufficiently explain the country’s economic trajectory.