Kemi Badenoch's approval rises

Kemi Badenoch's approval leapt from 40 per cent to 57 per cent among Reform UK voters when shown video clips of her saying she didn't want to live in a country run by people who…

“I don't want to explain to my son, when we're watching our brilliant England team play football, that some people don't think our black players are English. I am British. I'm proud of my country, I'm proud of our history.”

Reform leader warns about Englishness debate

Reform leader Nigel Farage warned colleagues to stop making the Englishness comparison amid fears it was damaging the party in the polls.

Suella Braverman's English identity questioned

Mr Farage has exchanged words with Suella Braverman after she suggested she could not be considered English despite being born and raised in England because her parents were born abroad.

Kemi's attack on Reform

Kemi Badenoch launched an excoriating attack on Reform at last week's Conservative Party conference.

Research shows public support

Research suggests her response resonated with the public and helped drive a Tory revival in the polls.

Conservative approval rises

Overall, the proportion of voters approving of the Tory leader rose from 37 to 46 per cent.

Reform internal dismay

Tim Montgomerie, a prominent former Reform activist, said there was 'a lot of dismay at the top of the party' about the row.

Reform's stance on Englishness

A party source said Mr Farage had been 'very clear' for years that 'black and Asian people can be English'.

Reform's ethno-nationalist shift

Some Reform figures have followed the lead of Restore Britain in flirting with a form of 'ethno nationalism' which argues that only those who can trace their English roots back for generations can be judged…

Reform donor's controversial post

Reform donor Arron Banks faced criticism last month after posting on X: 'Going through Heathrow today, there wasn't one white face in security or airport services.

Kemi's statement on English identity

Mrs Badenoch told the party faithful last week: 'I don't want to explain to my son, when we're watching our brilliant England team play football, that some people don't think our black players are English.

“I don't want to explain to my son, when we're watching our brilliant England team play football, that some people don't think our black players are English. I am British. I'm proud of my country, I'm proud of our history.”

Andy Burnham's support

Andy Burnham said she was right to draw 'a line between her and Reform for suggesting that her children were not British'.

Conservative poll lead

Surveys suggest the Conservatives have overtaken Reform for the first time in two years.

Reform voter approval shift

The effect was particularly marked among Reform voters, with her approval jumping from 40 to 57 per cent.

Reform's internal conflict

Tim Montgomerie, a prominent former Reform activist, said there was 'a lot of dismay at the top of the party' about the row.

Reform's stance on English identity

A party source said Mr Farage had been 'very clear' for years that 'black and Asian people can be English'.