UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has accused some church leaders of being “naive” in allowing asylum seekers to convert to Christianity as a technique to exploit the UK’s immigration system.
Speaking to a politically right-leaning audience during her December keynote address in Washington DC, Badenoch expressed concerns that such practices not only undermine border controls but in addition exploit the UK’s values of liberalism and tolerance.
“It seems that over a few years, now we have had very naive church leaders converting individuals who had no real interest in Christianity as a method to avoid border control,” Badenoch said.
She highlighted a troubling example where a migrant, after converting to Christianity, claimed persecution fears to stay within the UK. The individual later committed sexual assaults and attacked a mother and her two children with chemicals in London.
Badenoch, a vocal critic of leftist ideologies, argued that liberal democratic systems have been “hacked” by extremists who exploit them for their very own agendas. “This is what I mean after I say that liberalism has been hacked,” she explained. “When a system that has accommodations made for the vulnerable is being exploited by opponents of that system, something needs to vary.”
Her remarks highlighted a broader critique of Western institutions failing to adapt to evolving threats. “Because we do not know the worth of what now we have, and we’re failing to adapt because the world is changing and recent threats emerge, we do not recognise when opposing ideologies are taking on,” Badenoch warned.
Badenoch’s comments come amid growing pressure on the UK government to handle migration challenges. She stressed that simplistic approaches to migration reform would fail, urging a transparent long-term vision.
“These aren’t features of the system; they’re bugs and so they need fixing,” she said, noting that public frustration over ineffective policies could have significant political consequences, as seen within the Conservative Party’s poor performance in July.
Embracing her label as a “culture warrior”, Badenoch declared, “If I do not rise up for Britain’s culture, who will?” She warned of ideologies that demand tolerance while undermining the very institutions that foster it. “Ideologies and beliefs that demand our tolerance at the same time as they seek to undermine the very culture and institutions that create that tolerance,” she highlighted as a growing concern.
During her US visit, Badenoch attended the International Democracy Union, a think tank co-founded by Margaret Thatcher, and sought to strengthen ties with Republican leaders. Her visit aligns with the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has been outspoken about each immigration control and his Christian faith.
Drawing from her upbringing in Nigeria, Badenoch shared her deep appreciation for the freedoms afforded by democratic societies. She cautioned against complacency, stating, “We are giving freely our freedoms by stealth.”
Badenoch has stated in previous interviews regarding her beliefs that she identifies as agnostic and describes herself as a “cultural Christian” – someone who aligns with Christian values and traditions without actually holding a private faith.
