Richard Tice Refuses To Say Whether He Questions Kemi Badenoch's Englishness

Richard Tice has refused to say whether or not he questions Kemi Badenoch’s Englishness.

The Reform UK deputy leader repeatedly dodged the issue when quizzes by Times Radio presenter Stig Abell.

He said the debate about what makes someone English “is something we just haven’t got time for” – despite his party colleague Suella Braverman starting it.

She sparked an outcry last month by declaring “I’m not English”, despite being born, brought up, educated and raising a family in England.

Although she said she was proud to be British, Braverman insisted that Englishness is “an ethnicity” and therefore she does not qualify because of her Asian background.

Tory leader Badenoch hit back at her former cabinet colleague on Tuesday, saying she did not want her mixed race children “to hear rhetoric that makes them feel that they’re not a part of this country”.

On Wednesday morning, Abell asked Tice: “You wouldn’t question the Englishness of Kemi Badenoch, would you?”

But rather than answer the question, the Reform MP said: “Frankly, this whole Englishness debate is something we just haven’t got time for.

“It’s fine if the economy is growing and everyone’s feeling rich and nothing better to do than to navel-gaze and discuss the tech crisis.”

When Abell pointed out that it was Braverman who started the debate, Tice replied: “I’m just telling you, the country’s going bust, we face blackouts, and I’m not talking about any of those sort of nice-to-have debates when we’ve got a crisis facing us.”

Asked again if he would question Badenoch’s Englishness, Tice once more avoided giving a straight answer.

He said: “I’m just not talking about it. I think it’s a complete waste of time.”

The presenter then said: “Well, you could answer it. You could take three seconds and say, ‘no, I’m not questioning her Englishness’.”

But Tice told him: “You can try me all the time, Stig. I’m focused on cutting bills, growing the economy, and cutting draft regulations, and not ridiculous navel-gazing.”

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