Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has come under criticism after insisting that describing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as a “Nigerian scammer” was not intentionally racist, despite acknowledging that the remark was over the top.
Farage made the comments during an interview on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, October 27, where presenter Sally Nugent questioned him about a controversial social media post by Raheem Kassam, a former adviser to the Reform UK leader.
Kassam, a political activist and former UKIP adviser, had described Badenoch as a “Nigerian scammer” in a post on X, warning people against giving her their bank details.
He also questioned whether the opposition leader was a “walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant”.
The comments sparked outrage, with Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake accusing Kassam of making racist remarks against Badenoch.
During the BBC interview, Farage initially attempted to distance himself from Kassam, noting that the activist was based in the United States and was not his chief of staff.
He also pointed out that Kassam was of Indian heritage.
Nugent challenged the argument, asking whether that meant Kassam could not be racist.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” Farage replied.
The Reform leader subsequently argued that the word “scammer” was a strong description but maintained that Badenoch had not been truthful about some aspects of her past.
He said the controversy was partly about whether Badenoch, who grew up in Nigeria, considered herself Nigerian or British.
Farage eventually admitted that Kassam’s remark was “over the top” but insisted he did not believe it was intentionally racist.
He added: “This is a cultural argument about whether Kemi Badenoch, who grew up in Nigeria, considers herself Nigerian or British. It’s not a debate or argument I’m going to get involved in.”
He added: “I don’t think saying someone grew up in Nigeria is racist. I don’t think it is. You tell me. What do you think?”
As Nugent asked once more about the “Nigerian scammer” remark, Farage said: “All sorts of rude things get said on Twitter between people every single day.”
The controversy has renewed questions about political accountability and the responsibility of party leaders to challenge language that may be considered offensive or discriminatory.
For Badenoch, the row has placed her Nigerian background at the centre of a political dispute in which questions of identity, belonging and public respect have become increasingly sensitive.
The incident also highlights the need for political leaders to address concerns about racism directly, rather than allowing them to be overshadowed by arguments over wording and personal associations.
