Politics · United Kingdom · 4 hrs ago
Badenoch's criticism of Reform's Englishness row wins support from its voters
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Reform figures over claims that only white people can be English.
The row followed comments by Suella Braverman, who was born and raised in England but questioned whether she could be considered English because her parents were born abroad.
A survey found Badenoch's approval among Reform voters rose from 40% to 57% after they watched a clip of her criticism.
Across all voters shown the clip, her approval rose from 37% to 46%.
Badenoch said she did not want her mixed-race children to hear that Black England footballers were not English.
The dispute has raised concerns within Reform about its effect on support, and leader Nigel Farage has urged colleagues to stop making comparisons about Englishness.
Surveys cited in the story suggest the Conservatives have overtaken Reform in polling for the first time in two years.
Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of Reform figures who questioned who can be English won support from Reform UK voters, according to research by More in Common.
Her approval rating among Reform voters rose from 40 per cent to 57 per cent after they were shown clips of her comments.
Overall, her approval rose from 37 per cent to 46 per cent among voters shown the conference clip.
Nigel Farage warned colleagues to stop making comparisons about Englishness amid concern the row was hurting the party in the polls.
- Who
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK voters.
- What
- Research found Badenoch’s approval rose among voters, particularly Reform voters, after they watched her criticism of Reform figures’ comments about Englishness.
- When
- The comments came at last week’s Conservative Party conference; the article was published on 15 October 2026.
- Where
- The row concerns who can be considered English in the UK.
- Why
- Badenoch criticised comments suggesting people with migrant backgrounds could not be English; the research found her response resonated with voters.
Kemi Badenoch
Reform figures who questioned who can be English
English identity
Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch said she opposed people questioning whether her mixed-race children or black England players were English.
Reform figures who questioned who can be English
Some Reform figures promoted the idea that people need English roots going back generations to be fully English.
Party position
Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch used the row to criticise Reform.
Reform figures who questioned who can be English
A Reform party source said Farage had long been clear that black and Asian people can be English.
Reform donor Arron Banks posted criticism of the racial makeup of airport security and services at Heathrow.
Badenoch criticised Reform at the Conservative Party conference over comments about who can be English.
More in Common found Badenoch’s approval rose among voters, including Reform voters.
- More in Common survey
- Badenoch approval among Reform voters rose from 40 per cent to 57 per cent
- Overall approval
- Rose from 37 per cent to 46 per cent among voters shown the conference clip
- Conference
- Conservative Party conference, last week
- Reform leader
- Nigel Farage warned colleagues to stop making comparisons about Englishness
1 source
What people are saying
I don't want to explain to my son, when we're watching our brilliant England team play football, that some people don't think our black players are English.
black and Asian people can be English
a line between her and Reform for suggesting that her children were not British