Truth: She was born in Wimbledon, London in 1980, although then spent much of her childhood in Nigeria, where her parents are from.
Social media posts have been circulating since the announcement of the Conservative Party leadership contest results, incorrectly stating that new leader Kemi Badenoch was “Nigerian-born.”
Mrs. Badenoch recently made history as the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party, following the 2 November announcement that she had defeated Robert Jenrick to become Rishi Sunak’s successor and the opposition leader in the House of Commons.
After her win, numerous Facebook posts described Mrs. Badenoch as “Nigerian-born,” which is inaccurate.
Mrs. Badenoch was actually born in Wimbledon, London, in 1980.
Her parents are Nigerian, and she spent part of her childhood in Lagos and the United States before returning to the UK at 16 to complete her A-levels at Phoenix College in Morden, south London.
Misinformation about politicians and the political process can spread rapidly online and potentially harm democratic processes, so it’s essential to verify information seen on social media before sharing.
