Kemi Badenoch, the first black woman to lead the Conservative Party, has revealed the extent of the racism and personal attacks she has faced since her election. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Badenoch expressed surprise at the scale of hostility, describing it as “hysterical,” especially from anonymous online sources.

She highlighted a rise in ethno-nationalism on social media and the persistent doubts about her achievements, coining the phrase “Kemi derangement syndrome” to describe the disbelief that she could have won and succeeded. Badenoch, born in Wimbledon but raised partly in Nigeria, rarely discusses her race but acknowledges its role in the backlash.

Despite criticism, she maintains her stance that Britain is not a racist country and has urged people to consider multiple explanations before attributing issues to race. Facing internal party challenges and low polling numbers, Badenoch remains focused on her leadership role, dismissing rumors of a challenge from shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick as “wishful thinking.”