Kemi Badenoch, the UK’s Conservative Party leader, has shared her experiences with racism since becoming the first black woman to lead the party. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Badenoch revealed that she was unprepared for the intense hostility she faced, despite previously stating that Britain is “the best place in the world to be black.”

Badenoch attributed the personal attacks to a “Kemi derangement syndrome,” where some individuals struggle to accept her leadership. She noted that while some MPs criticize her, the majority of negative comments come from anonymous online users.

The party leader also highlighted a growing trend of ethno-nationalism on social media, with many questioning her abilities based on her race and ethnicity. Badenoch, who was born in Wimbledon, grew up in Nigeria, and returned to the UK at 16, rarely discusses her heritage publicly.