Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, has described the personal attacks she has faced from racists since becoming the first black woman to lead the party as “hysterical,” highlighting the challenges of public service for ethnic minority politicians.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Badenoch said that the hostility she experiences online far exceeds any opposition from fellow Members of Parliament.

“There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this and I’m doing it. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people it’s hysterical. Not even just from MPs. I actually don’t think it’s that many MPs. I think it’s two to three people out of 120. That’s nothing. But online as well,” she said.

Badenoch noted that much of the abuse is tied to her race and ethnicity.

“There’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up, lots of stuff about my race and my ethnicity and the tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself’,” she explained.

Born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria until the age of 16, Badenoch has previously acknowledged her Yoruba heritage while stating that she does not identify primarily as Nigerian. She said she attempts to assess all situations carefully before attributing issues to racism.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that is a healthy way to run a society,” she said.

Reflecting on her leadership role, Badenoch dismissed speculation of internal challenges to her position, describing them as “wishful thinking.”

She emphasised the seriousness of public office, saying, “Many of those people having those conversations think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game.”

Badenoch’s comments come amid her ongoing efforts to steer the Conservative Party while addressing broader societal discussions about race, equality, and public accountability in the UK.