Kemi Badenoch on Immigration: 'Not All Cultures Are Equal'

[Social Media]

 

Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative leadership hopeful, has sparked debate by claiming that not all cultures are "equally valid" in the context of immigration. Badenoch, known for her forthright views, emphasized that it is "naive" to believe immigrants will automatically abandon long-standing cultural hostilities when they arrive in Britain. According to her, most politicians avoid discussing immigration in terms of culture, choosing instead to focus on its economic aspects because they fear the subject is too controversial. 

 

In an article for *The Telegraph*, Badenoch made clear that culture encompasses more than just "cuisine or clothes." It also includes "customs which may be at odds with British values." She noted that many immigrants bring deeply ingrained beliefs and tensions with them, and it is naive to think those feelings will vanish upon crossing a border. “We cannot be naïve and assume immigrants will automatically abandon ancestral ethnic hostilities at the border, or that all cultures are equally valid. They are not. I am struck, for example, by the number of recent immigrants to the UK who hate Israel. That sentiment has no place here,” she said.

 

Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents and spent much of her childhood in Lagos before returning to the UK at 16, emphasized the complexity of immigration in modern times. She highlighted how technology and social media have transformed the immigrant experience, explaining that today's migrants remain closely connected to their countries of origin. “We must recognise that the world has changed.

 

When I moved back to this country 30 years ago, it was impossible to communicate quickly with my family. Letters would take weeks to arrive, I had to schedule calls with the few people who had working telephones let alone mobiles. Today’s immigrants, even those arriving on boats, come with WhatsApp and Instagram. Their feet may be in the UK, but their heads and hearts are still back in their country of origin,” Badenoch said. 

 

She stressed the need for not just an immigration strategy but also an integration strategy that reflects these changes. “We need an integration strategy that takes this into account,” she urged, calling for a more nuanced approach to addressing cultural differences among immigrant populations. Badenoch argued that Britain’s tolerance must not be exploited by those who come to the country but then undermine the values that have allowed it to succeed. “We must never allow our tolerance to be taken advantage of by those who arrive, only to undermine the very values that have allowed us to succeed,” she concluded.

 

Badenoch’s remarks come at a critical time in the Conservative Party's leadership race, where she, along with candidates such as Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat, are vying for the top spot. Each contender is expected to present their policies to party members ahead of the next round of MP votes. Badenoch’s focus on immigration and culture will likely stir further debate as the leadership contest unfolds.

 

Based on a report from: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-30

 

 

 

[Patong2]

Interesting take, especially the comment of recent migrants retaining immediate contact with their "roots"

by internet/phone and not being thrust into the new community as were migrants say 50 years ago.

[thaibeachlovers]

If anyone wants to immigrate to a country, and not just live there as most farangs in Thailand do, they should be prepared to become part of the community they join. The community should not have to accept their culture, whatever it is.

If they ain't prepared to do that, they should not be allowed to become citizens.

 

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone wants to immigrate to a country, and not just live there as most farangs in Thailand do, they should be prepared to become part of the community they join. The community should not have to accept their culture, whatever it is.

If they ain't prepared to do that, they should not be allowed to become citizens.

 

...and they absolutely should not come with the intention of forcing their religion on us.

[JonnyF]

Kemi dropping truth bombs.

 

It's a real shame she didn't get the Conservative leadership. We might have been spared 2 tier keir and his not so merry band of moronic Liberals. 

[Chomper Higgot]

Give her the leadership of the Tories, it’ll be fun watching her doing even more damaged to the carcass of what used to be the Conservative Party.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone wants to immigrate to a country, and not just live there as most farangs in Thailand do, they should be prepared to become part of the community they join. The community should not have to accept their culture, whatever it is.

If they ain't prepared to do that, they should not be allowed to become citizens.

 

Most Farangs in Thailand don’t speak the language, beyond being able to order a bottle of beer.

Edited September 30 by Chomper Higgot

[Bday Prang]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Most Farage in Thailand don’t speak the language, beyond being able to order a bottle of beer.

Most in Thailand are not Immigrants  (the clue is in the name of the visa ) and as such enjoy none of the  privileges  afforded to immigrants.  Although I agree that they should at least learn some Thai, its common sense

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Most Farage in Thailand don’t speak the language, beyond being able to order a bottle of beer.

 

Nige is here?

 

Where? Love to buy him a pint. 

[Bday Prang]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Give her the leadership of the Tories, it’ll be fun watching her doing even more damaged to the carcass of what used to be the Conservative Party.

 

Let her jump ship and cross over to labour,  I believe there may be a leadership vacancy sooner rather than later.  I doubt she would upset  the rest of the labour party  or  upset the electorate  any more than Two Tier Kier has done so far

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Most in Thailand are not Immigrants  (the clue is in the name of the visa ) and as such enjoy none of the  privileges  afforded to immigrants.  Although I agree that they should at least learn some Thai, its common sense

The clue is in the act of having passed through ‘immigration’.

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Nige is here?

 

Where? Love to buy him a pint. 

Well done Jonny, my auto-speller handed you an easy point.

 

 

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The clue is in the act of having passed through ‘immigration’.

 

The signs I saw  were for "Passport Inspection".  Where they confirm your Non-Immigrant visa if you're planning on staying awhile.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, impulse said:

 

The signs I saw  were for "Passport Inspection".  Where they confirm your Non-Immigrant visa if you're planning on staying awhile.

 

Would you prefer ‘migrant’ or are you now going to claim not to have ‘migrated’?

 

 

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The clue is in the act of having passed through ‘immigration’.

 

So tourists are immigrants?

[Bday Prang]

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The clue is in the act of having passed through ‘immigration’.

What, you mean like a tourist , ?    

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Well done Jonny, my auto-speller handed you an easy point.

 

 

 

Maybe you should focus on quality of posts rather than quantity. 

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Maybe you should focus on quality of posts rather than quantity. 

 

 

Post envy......now.....of whom does that remind me?

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

So tourists are immigrants?

You’re a tourist now?

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

What, you mean like a tourist , ?    

Tourists are living here.

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You’re a tourist now?

 

No.

 

My sister was last year though. Was she an immigrant for 10 days?

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

No.

 

My sister was last year though. Was she an immigrant for 10 days?

Not one of those ‘illegal Farang immigrants’ doing border runs then, good to hear, I trust she had a good holiday.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Not one of those ‘illegal Farang immigrants’ doing border runs then, good to hear, I trust she had a good holiday.

 

Was she an immigrant?

[Chomper Higgot]

12 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Was she an immigrant?

No, unlike her brother, she was a tourist.

 

 

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No, unlike her brother, she was a tourist.

 

 

 

Which makes the point you were making below somewhat silly, no?

 

[simon43]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

...and they absolutely should not come with the intention of forcing their religion on us.

Personally, I think all immigrants should be required to eat bacon butties for breakfast and keep damp dogs as pets.....

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Give her the leadership of the Tories, it’ll be fun watching her doing even more damaged to the carcass of what used to be the Conservative Party.

 

But not as much fun as I had reading Rosie Duffields resignation letter to Two Tier Kier.  That damage  had to hurt . What do you think ?

Edited September 30 by Bday Prang

[mikeymike100]

19 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Personally, I think all immigrants should be required to eat bacon butties for breakfast and keep damp dogs as pets.....

And drink pints of beer?

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

And drink pints of beer?

 

I wish they'd apply that in Thailand.

 

Beer, bacon butties and pet dogs. Heaven on earth. 

[mokwit]

31 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Personally, I think all immigrants should be required to eat bacon butties for breakfast and keep damp dogs as pets.....

If we can't discuss things with them over a pork pie and a pint......................