Kemi Badenoch warns ‘rubbish about white privilege and Britain being racist’ risks fuelling French-style riots in UK

She argued that prioritising economic growth would help deter people from taking to the streets.

However, the Tory leader also warned culture wars could drive unrest on this side of the English Channel.

Speaking to The People’s Channel, Mrs Badenoch said: “I do worry that things like that could happen here.

“We’ve already seen protests flaring up across the country.

“That is why it is very important that we get our economy growing again.

“People are feeling poorer. But there is also a flip side to this.

“Our economic problems and our cultural problems are two sides of the same coin.

“If you tell young people that their country is terrible, that it’s okay to hate their country, that Britain is a racist place, and end up going on about imperialism, white privilege and all of that rubbish, then you see them burning down churches and spraying graffiti on war memorials.

“And that’s why I always intervene. You know, some people will say, ‘Why are you getting involved in culture wars?’

“I will fight for British culture. It’s very important.”

Mrs Badenoch issued the warning after delivering a keynote speech ahead of John Healey’s first Budget as Chancellor on October 28.

Following her speech, the Leader of the Opposition warned failing to get a grip on the migrant crisis could result in scenes in France being emulated on this side of the English Channel.

She said: “I don’t want us to end up like France is ending up, with so much civil unrest.

“Politicians need to take responsibility. We will help Shabana [Mahmood] if she takes responsibility.”

Despite taking aim at Labour, the Tories oversaw net migration hit a record high of 944,000 in the year ending March 2023.

Net migration dropped to 171,000 in the year ending December 2025.

The Conservative leader also accused Labour of wanting mass migration to get more votes at the next general election.

She said: “[Labour MPs] want more immigration and they will do everything they can to get more.

“They think that their votes in it for them. This is very self-interested on the part of the Labour Party on ILR.

“We do need to do something about indefinite leave to remain. It is an old system that doesn’t work for today’s world.

“Too many people came in under Conservative Governments who are now qualifying for it … What I’m interested in is how we fix this problem.”