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

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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.