Kemi Badenoch Demands Swift Deportation for Asylum Seekers Caught Working Illegally, Faces Backlash Over Comments on Nigeria
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has ignited controversy after calling for the immediate deportation of asylum seekers found working illegally in the United Kingdom.
Her remarks, part of a broader clampdown on illegal immigration and labor, have stirred political debate at home and criticism abroad particularly over her statements on her Nigerian roots.
In a statement reported by Sky News, Badenoch said:
“If you come here illegally, take advantage of our asylum system, and then break our laws by illegally working, your asylum claim must be rejected, and you should be on the next plane home.”
Badenoch, alongside her shadow home secretary Chris Philp, insisted that illegal employment acts as a major “pull factor” for migrants risking dangerous Channel crossings. She described the current system as being too lenient and exploitable.
“Illegal working rewards illegality, protects perpetrators and mocks hard-working taxpayers,” she said, echoing calls for tougher enforcement.
Philp reinforced the message, calling for stronger penalties:
“Anyone who plays the system should have their status stripped, wages confiscated, and be deported. Smugglers sell illegal work in the UK as a reward for breaking the law.”
Earlier this summer, Philp made an unannounced inspection of an asylum hotel where he reportedly discovered “clear evidence” of asylum seekers illegally working for delivery platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.
Investigations have revealed that some new arrivals can rent legitimate driver accounts just hours after entering the country, bypassing identity and employment verification checks.
In response, the Home Office struck a deal with the major food delivery companies to tighten their systems. Under this agreement, the government will share the locations of asylum accommodations to help the companies flag misuse and unauthorised riders. All three firms have said they are upgrading their technology to detect and block fraudulent workers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the crackdown, saying illegal working:
“Undermines honest businesses, exploits vulnerable individuals, and fuels organised immigration crime.”
She called the data-sharing deal “decisive action” and noted a 50% increase in enforcement raids and arrests over the past year.
Angela Eagle, the Border Security and Asylum Minister, also told Sky News that arrests for illegal working had risen by 51% year-on-year, surpassing 7,000. She warned that asylum seekers caught working illegally could lose access to hotel accommodation or welfare support:
“We are cracking down on that abuse, and we intend to keep doing so.”
Meanwhile, Badenoch has also come under fire for controversial statements about her Nigerian heritage. In a recent podcast interview, she declared she no longer identifies as Nigerian, revealing she hasn’t renewed her Nigerian passport in over two decades and now fully identifies with the UK.
The comments provoked outrage among Nigerians and members of the diaspora, who accused her of disowning her heritage and reinforcing negative stereotypes about Africa.
Badenoch has often been critical of Nigeria, describing it as a country that “failed to nurture its potential” and citing its political and economic instability as the reason her parents moved to the UK.
In another instance, during an appearance on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, she claimed:
“The Nigerian Constitution does not permit women to pass on their citizenship to their children.”
This statement was fact-checked and widely denounced as false. The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) submitted a formal petition to the UK Parliament, asserting that Nigerian law provides equal citizenship rights to both men and women. The group accused Badenoch of spreading misinformation that could harm diplomatic ties between the UK and Nigeria.
Further backlash followed her past comments perceived as insensitive towards Nigeria’s northern ethnic groups, with critics labelling them divisive and elitist.
As Badenoch continues to push a hardline immigration agenda while distancing herself from her Nigerian identity, both her political and cultural positions remain under intense scrutiny at home and abroad.
