UK Politician Compares Reform UK to Nazis Over Misleading Ad Targeting Badenoch
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused Reform UK of using Nazi-like propaganda in a social media ad that selectively quoted Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, implying she only cares about black lives. The ad omitted her full statement that “everyone matters.” Streeting called Reform leader Nigel Farage an “English nationalist.” Separately, former Conservative Nadhim Zahawi faced backlash for defending the ad, which critics say exploits racial tensions for political gain.
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Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi Condemned for Defending Misleading Attack Ad on Kemi Badenoch
Nadhim Zahawi, a former Conservative chancellor who defected to Reform UK, faced widespread condemnation for defending a controversial Reform UK social media ad attacking Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. The ad selectively quoted Badenoch's 2020 statement 'black lives do matter' alongside a partial 2026 quote 'I don't care about white lives matter,' omitting her full statement that 'everyone matters.' The ad was produced after the jailing of Vickram Digwa for killing Henry Nowak, a case Nigel Farage cited as evidence of 'two-tier policing.' During a Sky News interview, presenter Trevor Phillips pressed Zahawi on whether the ad was a fair representation, but Zahawi deflected, arguing Badenoch should apologize for her 2020 remarks. Social media users, including broadcaster Iain Dale, called Zahawi's defense 'disgraceful,' with critics accusing defected Tories of pandering to Farage.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi Condemned for Defending Misleading Attack Ad on Kemi Badenoch
Nadhim Zahawi, a former Conservative chancellor who defected to Reform UK, faced widespread condemnation for defending a Reform UK social media ad attacking Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. The ad juxtaposed a 2020 quote from Badenoch saying 'black lives do matter' with a partial 2026 quote where she said 'I don't care about white lives matter,' omitting her full statement that 'everyone matters.' The ad was produced after the jailing of Vickram Digwa for killing Henry Nowak, a case Nigel Farage cited as evidence of 'two-tier policing.' In a Sky News interview, presenter Trevor Phillips pressed Zahawi on whether the ad was a fair representation, but Zahawi refused to condemn it, arguing Badenoch should admit she was wrong in 2020. Social media users and commentators, including Iain Dale, slammed Zahawi's defense as 'disgraceful,' accusing him of misrepresentation and desperation to please his new party.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Wes Streeting Compares Reform UK to Nazis Over Kemi Badenoch Attack Ad
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has compared Reform UK to the Nazis over a controversial social media advert targeting Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. The Reform ad juxtaposed a 2020 quote from Badenoch saying 'black lives do matter' with a partial quote from a recent interview where she said 'I don't care about white lives matter'. However, her full quote on ITV's Good Morning Britain was: 'I don't want to hear about Black Lives Matter. I don't want to hear about White Lives Matter. Everyone matters.' Speaking on The News Agents podcast, Streeting accused Reform of 'grossly and dangerously misrepresenting' Badenoch to suggest the black Tory leader cares only about black people. He described the ad as 'propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s' and 'dangerous, nationalistic'. Streeting also called Reform leader Nigel Farage an 'English nationalist', though he stopped short of calling him a fascist. The controversy highlights escalating political tensions in the UK over race and immigration rhetoric.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Wes Streeting Compares Reform UK to Nazis Over Kemi Badenoch Attack Ad
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has compared Reform UK to the Nazis over a controversial social media advert targeting Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. The Reform ad selectively quoted Badenoch saying 'black lives do matter' in 2020 alongside a partial quote from a recent interview where she said 'I don't care about white lives matter'. However, her full quote on ITV's Good Morning Britain was: 'I don't want to hear about Black Lives Matter. I don't want to hear about White Lives Matter. Everyone matters.' Speaking on The News Agents podcast, Streeting accused Reform of 'grossly and dangerously misrepresenting' Badenoch to suggest the black Tory leader cares only about black people. He described the advert as 'propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s' and 'dangerous, nationalistic' politics. Streeting also labeled Reform leader Nigel Farage an 'English nationalist', though stopped short of calling him a fascist. The controversy highlights escalating political tensions in the UK over race and immigration rhetoric.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Wes Streeting Compares Reform UK to Nazis Over Misleading Advert Targeting Kemi Badenoch
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has compared the right-wing Reform UK party to the Nazis over a social media advert attacking Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. The Reform ad selectively quoted Badenoch, suggesting she cares about black people but not white people. Streeting, speaking on The News Agents podcast, accused Reform of spreading 'propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s' and of seeking to foment racial division for political gain. He noted that Badenoch's full quote from a Good Morning Britain interview was 'I don't want to hear about Black Lives Matter. I don't want to hear about White Lives Matter. Everyone matters.' Streeting also described Reform leader Nigel Farage as an 'English nationalist,' calling nationalism a dangerous political force. The controversy highlights escalating political rhetoric in the UK ahead of potential elections.
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