The Newshound

Farage says ex-Ukip adviser Kassam's 'Nigerian scammer' jibe at Badenoch was 'over the top' but not 'intentionally racist'

Kemi Badenoch, who urged former Tory voters to "come home" after the row, accusing Reform of spending their time attacking her rather than improving people's lives.
Kemi Badenoch, who urged former Tory voters to "come home" after the row, accusing Reform of spending their time attacking her rather than improving people's lives.

Robert Jenrick refused four times on live radio to call Kassam's posts racist, dismissing the former Ukip chief of staff as "a random journalist" with no role in Reform. Badenoch warned on ITV's Good Morning Britain that Reform is "spending their time attacking me" rather than improving voters' lives, and that "racist attacks using my race as an attack form is not going to work." Farage reportedly privately rebuked Kassam over the remarks, even as he publicly claimed on BBC Breakfast they were not "intentionally racist."

Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Kassam of "launching racist slurs" and demanded Farage "come clean" about Kassam's ties to Reform.

Farage's BBC Breakfast defence — "He's Indian! He's of Indian heritage!" — prompted presenter Sally Nugent to ask: "Does that mean he can't be racist?"

Badenoch on Jenrick's defection: 'He's not my problem anymore. He's Nigel Farage's problem.'

MoreThe TelegraphBadenoch condemns racist attacks after Reform rowAOL News UKNigel Farage accused of shoving female Lib Dem MP in parliamentthetimes.comNigel Farage privately rebuked ex-adviser over ‘Nigerian scammer’ jibe - The Timeslbc.co.ukRobert Jenrick refuses to condemnEvening StandardBadenoch says ‘racist attacks’ will not work after ‘Nigerian scammer’ commentshuffingtonpost.co.ukNigel Farage Claims Calling Kemi Badenoch AGB NewsParliament issues response after Nigel Farage skips Budget over missing prayer cardleftfootforward.orgRobert Jenrick refuses to call Farage ally’s attack on Kemi Badenoch ‘racist’Daily ExpressKemi Badenoch furiously hits back at racist attacks in Reform UK row
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