Kemi Badenoch faces backlash over immigration crackdown

UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch has ignited a fierce public debate after calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to adopt the Conservatives’ hardline deportation bill aimed at reducing immigration levels.

In a video posted Friday to her X (formerly Twitter) handle, Badenoch warned that nearly two million immigrants could automatically become British citizens by next year if urgent action isn’t taken.

“From next year, two million immigrants could automatically claim British citizenship. That’s nearly twice the population of Birmingham,” she warned, urging Labour to “get tough” by enacting the legislation unveiled by the Tories on May 6.

The proposed bill features sweeping measures, including:

• The deportation of all foreign criminals,

• Mandatory age checks on migrants,

• Tighter visa regulations,

• Restrictions on the use of the Human Rights Act in immigration appeals,

• Making asylum support repayable, and

• Denying permanent residency to individuals relying on government benefits.

“Until that’s law, we won’t fix it,” Badenoch said. “Our country is a home, not a hotel. If we don’t defend it, no one else will.”

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However, her remarks sparked a flood of backlash online. Critics pointed to what they described as hypocrisy, citing her own immigrant background.

One user, @Ghislaintweet, wrote: “An immigrant with so much energy to stop immigration cracks me up so bad. You are a beneficiary.”

Others criticized the Conservative Party’s overall handling of immigration during their 14 years in power. @Deanjch tweeted, “Could have done something about it a long time ago. But your party bottled it…”

Meanwhile, @sweettalkin53 said: “Kemi, you flooded our borders and will never be forgiven,” while @JamesPGoddard90 added: “Tories are never to be trusted, ever!”

Badenoch’s push comes amid internal party pressure, as the Conservatives face a decline in local council seats and public confidence ahead of the next general election.

Crediblenewsng.com