Reform UK’s Danny Kruger refuses to condemn high-profile Reformer who called Kemi Badenoch a ‘Nigerian scammer’
Kruger dismissed the comments as ‘rumbustious debate’
Reform MP Danny Kruger has refused to condemn a Nigel Farage ally who called his former boss Kemi Badenoch a “Nigerian scammer”.
Raheem Kassam, a former chief of staff to Farage when he was UKIP leader, was accused by Conservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake of “launching racist slurs” at Badenoch.
In one post on X, Kassam wrote of Badenoch: “How are people still falling for this Nigerian scammer? Don’t give her your credit card number and bank account details!”.
In others he said: “So Kemi, tell us the truth. Are you a walking gaffe or an illegal immigrant?’ and pointedly used her full name – Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch.”
On the Daily T podcast yesterday, Telegraph journalist Tim Stanley asked Kruger what he thought about Kassam calling the Tory leader “a Nigerian scammer”, and added: “Why won’t the party distance itself from this man?”.
The Tory turned Reform MP downplayed Kassam’s comments, stating: “Raheem Kassam is not a party spokesman and he’s free to say what he likes.”
He added: “You know, a bit of rumbustious debate online, I think is part of our politics and so I’ve got nothing to say to that.”
Stanley pressed Kruger on his failure to condemn Kassam’s comments.
“The very fact that you won’t on this podcast when hearing that someone has described Kemi Badenoch as ‘a Nigerian scammer’ you won’t just instinctively say ‘that’s disgusting. I don’t like that,’” Stanley said.
“Instead, you call it rambunctious. That raises questions. I’m uncomfortable with that.” he added.
“Why not just call it out for what it is, which is a disgusting and unnecessary slur?,” Stanley asked.
Kruger suggested that Stanley was inviting him to get involved in “fratricidal conflict within the Reform family” and said he didn’t want to do that.
Kruger said he wanted to focus on “the real challenges the country faces” instead.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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