The Newshound

Robert Jenrick again refuses to call Kemi 'Nigerian scammer' jibe racist as Badenoch says he is 'Nigel Farage's problem'

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.
Raheem Kassam, whose posts prompted Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake to demand Nigel Farage "come clean" about his ties to him.
Raheem Kassam, whose posts prompted Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake to demand Nigel Farage "come clean" about his ties to him.

Raheem Kassam, a former chief of staff to Nigel Farage at UKIP and now a prominent Reform UK supporter, branded Kemi Badenoch a "Nigerian scammer" in a series of X posts, also questioning whether she was "a walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant" and telling followers not to give her bank details. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake called the posts "racist slurs" and demanded Farage explain Kassam's ties to the party.

Nigel Farage privately rebuked Kassam over the jibe but told BBC Breakfast it was not "intentionally racist" and dismissed it as a "cultural argument".

Jenrick, now a Reform MP after defecting from the Tories, called Kassam "a random journalist" with no role in the party and refused on two separate occasions to say the remarks were racist.

Badenoch said of Jenrick: "He's not one of my MPs. He's not my problem anymore. He's Nigel Farage's problem."

MoreThe TelegraphBadenoch condemns racist attacks after Reform rowEvening StandardBadenoch says ‘racist attacks’ will not work after ‘Nigerian scammer’ commentsthetimes.comNigel Farage privately rebuked ex-adviser over ‘Nigerian scammer’ jibe - The Timeslbc.co.ukRobert Jenrick refuses to condemnhuffingtonpost.co.ukNigel Farage Claims Calling Kemi Badenoch Aleftfootforward.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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