UK Conservative Party politician Kemi Badenoch has responded to questions about her identity, following reports that she no longer considers herself Nigerian. The clarification came after remarks she made during an appearance on the Rosebud podcast hosted by former MP and TV presenter Gyles Brandreth.

On the podcast, Badenoch said she is Nigerian by ancestry but doesn’t strongly identify with the nationality. Her comments sparked discussion online, with some interpreting her words as a rejection of her Nigerian roots.

In a follow-up interview with GB News, Badenoch addressed the backlash, explaining that while she was born in the UK and spent some of her early years in Nigeria, she sees herself mainly as British. She said the way her comments were reported didn’t reflect her full meaning, but she stood by the idea that her primary identity is British.

She explained that Nigeria is a nationality, not an ethnicity, and pointed out that there is no single Nigerian language—only a mix of different ethnic groups and languages. According to her, this distinction is often misunderstood.

Badenoch also spoke about the importance of integration. She said that people who move to the UK should focus on becoming part of British society, especially if they are involved in politics. In her words, politicians must be fully committed to British issues.