British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that migrants who refuse to embrace British culture “shouldn’t be here”, emphasizing that the UK is a “home, not a hotel.”
Delivering her first major speech of the year, Badenoch outlined a hardline stance on immigration, pledging to reduce numbers and rebuild public confidence in the Tory government.
Badenoch made clear that integration is non-negotiable, stating: “We simply cannot take all the millions of people who want to come here from elsewhere. Our country is our home, it is not a hotel. If people arriving don’t want to integrate into British culture, they shouldn’t be here. And it is not controversial to say that.”
Her comments reflect a growing push within the Conservative Party to take a firmer position on immigration, Brexit, and net zero policies, following criticism from the party’s right wing.
Amid speculation about a potential alliance between the Conservatives and Reform UK, Badenoch dismissed the idea outright, pointing to Nigel Farage’s desire to “destroy the Conservative Party.”
“Why on earth would we merge with that?” she asked.Despite Badenoch’s speech, Farage mocked her low online viewership, claiming only 21 people had tuned in on Facebook and that the YouTube stream crashed.
Meanwhile, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has refused to rule out a defection to Reform UK, adding that vote-splitting between the two parties could hand Labour the next election.
Badenoch’s remarks come as the Conservative Party grapples with declining poll numbers and growing discontent from right-wing figures within its ranks. As pressure mounts, the party’s stance on immigration and national identity is likely to remain a central theme in the lead-up to the next general election.
