Kemi Badenoch has warned that the UK is witnessing an unprecedented surge in antisemitism, saying the scale of hostility facing the Jewish community is unlike anything she has seen before. Speaking on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on LBC, the Conservative Party leader said the situation has reached a troubling point where many people appear indifferent to attacks targeting Jewish people.

Badenoch argued that if similar incidents were directed at other communities, the response would be far more urgent. Drawing on her own experiences, she said that as a Black woman in Britain, she believes the level of racism, intimidation and violence currently affecting Jewish communities would likely be treated as a “national emergency” if it were happening elsewhere. She pointed to incidents involving attacks on synagogues and community services, stressing that such acts should not be normalised or ignored.

Her comments come amid a string of alarming under investigation, including attempted arson attacks on synagogues in north London areas such as Finchley and Kenton, as well as an attack on Jewish community ambulances. Authorities are also examining whether foreign actors may be involved, with reports suggesting possible links to Iran-backed groups. A little-known organisation calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for several incidents in the UK and across Europe since early March.

Badenoch said the government should consider stronger action, including potentially designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group if evidence supports involvement. She added that tackling antisemitism requires not only addressing security threats but also confronting attitudes in public life and institutions that downplay or dismiss the issue.

The debate has also sparked strong reactions online. On Instagram, followers of The Shade Borough;s Instagram page shared mixed views in response to the story. One commenter criticised Badenoch, writing, “The devil works hard but self-hating Kemi works twice as hard.” Another questioned her identity, asking what ethnicity she identifies with. A different user added: “Kemi does NOT represent Black people. Certainly does NOT represent me and my experiences in this country.”

However, not all responses were critical. One resident voiced support, stating: “Kemi is 100% correct. I’ll mute now so I don’t have to see the victim complex in action.”