HuffPost UK, by Kate Nicholson, on UK Politics, 27 October 2026

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Nigel Farage Claims Calling Kemi Badenoch A 'Nigerian Scammer' Is Not 'Intentionally Racist'

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Nigel Farage has claimed that calling Kemi Badenoch a “Nigerian scammer” is not “intentionally racist” in a . Raheem Kassam, , is now a high-profile Reform UK supporter. He questioned on X whether the Tory leader was a “walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant”, warned people not to give her their bank details and called her a “Nigerian scammer. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake then accused Kassam of launching “racist slurs” at the leader of the opposition.

Asked if this was a racist remark on BBC Breakfast, Farage dodged the question, saying Kassam was now based in America and . The Reform UK leader then added: “He’s Indian! He’s of Indian heritage!” “Does that mean he can’t be racist?” Presenter Sally Nugent asked. “I don’t know, you tell me,” Farage replied. “As far as ‘scammer’ is concerned, it’s a strong word but it’s pretty clear that Kemi Badenoch does not tell the truth about what has happened.”

He added: “This is a cultural argument about whether Kemi Badenoch, who grew up in Nigeria, considers herself Nigerian or British. It’s not a debate or argument I’m going to get involved in.” “So she’s a scammer? So you would support those comments?” Nugent asked. Farage said scammer means someone who does not tell the truth. Nugent continued to push him to ask if this was a racist remark, while the Reform UK leader said it was not a debate he wanted to get involved in.

Reminded that Kassam is a close associate of his party, Farage said: “So what? People say all sorts of things on Twitter every single day.” He added: “I don’t think saying someone grew up in Nigeria is racist. I don’t think it is. You tell me. What do you think?” As Nugent asked once more about the “Nigerian scammer” remark, Farage said: “All sorts of rude things get said on Twitter between people every single day. “Do I think the comment was over the top?

Yes I do. Do I think it was intentionally racist? No I don’t.” Watch the tense exchange below. Farage’s comments come after two other Reform UK MPs were questioned over Kassam’s remarks. Danny Kruger dismissed it as “a bit of rambunctious debate online”, while Robert Jenrick just refused to discuss “what a journalist has tweeted”. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed.

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What we found (2)

HuffPost UK reports Nigel Farage's BBC Breakfast interview on Raheem Kassam's "Nigerian scammer" remark fairly closely, with attribution throughout and the presenter's challenges included. But it lets Farage's line that Kassam "was never his chief of staff" stand unanswered, and its own description of Kassam as a "former Ukip adviser" leaves out that other outlets report he was Farage's chief of staff. It also calls the interview "toe-curling" in its own voice.

  1. Gives a contested claim the last word

    Minor

    “was never his chief of staff”

    Why this matters
    The article reports Farage's words "was never his chief of staff" and moves on. Nothing in the piece answers them.
    The impression it gives
    A reader comes away believing Kassam never held a senior role under Farage, so Farage is fairly distancing himself from the remark.
    The context
    Other outlets reporting the same row describe Kassam as Farage's chief of staff at UKIP. The article gives the reader nothing to weigh against Farage's denial.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    “a political activist and former Ukip adviser”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice the outlet introduces Kassam only as "a political activist and former Ukip adviser". The phrase gives no sign of how close he was to Farage himself.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes Kassam to have been a junior or loose figure around UKIP. That makes Farage's later denial look consistent with the facts.
    The context
    LBC and the Express both report that Kassam was chief of staff to Farage. The outlet's description makes the link weaker than they report it.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

  2. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “toe-curling interview”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice the outlet calls the exchange a "toe-curling interview". That gives the reader a verdict on the exchange before setting out what was said.
    The impression it gives
    A reader is told how to feel about the interview before reading what Farage said.
    The context
    The exchange that follows is reported in quotes and can speak for itself. The judgement belongs to the outlet, not to any source in the piece.

    Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

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