‘We don’t want the 1930s to repeat themselves again’: moment Kemi Badenoch slams heckler on rising anti-Semitism in Britain

Kemi Badenoch has vowed to ‘stand with the Jewish people’ as she brutally took down a heckler during the election campaign.

The Tory leader warned passionately about the rising tide of anti-Semitism and the danger of a ‘repeat of the 1930s’ when confronted by a woman in Essex.

The clash began when Ms Badenoch was accused by the woman, who was not seen on camera, of answering “rehearsed questions” about attacks on the Jewish community and ignoring abuse against Muslims.

The woman, named Chelsey, continued to fuss as Ms Badenoch insisted: ‘It is very important that people know what they are voting for with me, and what they will have with me is someone who is very, very determined to stop this climate of intimidation and hatred of Jews.’

Ms Badenoch added passionately: ‘I go to Jewish primary schools where there are guards outside – I don’t see that at any other primary school in this country.

‘I go to Jewish supermarkets where there are guards. I go to Jewish businesses whose windows have been smashed, while Gail’s bakery has been completely sprayed with graffiti.

‘We have to stop pretending this isn’t happening. We do not want the 1930s to repeat themselves again.

Kemi Badenoch was confronted by a heckler during an investigation in Essex yesterday

The heckler, a woman named Chelsey, asked, “What about the Muslim people? Aren’t they worth protecting?’

The Conservative Party leader campaigned this weekend ahead of local elections

The leader had been answering questions from the press before being interrupted by the heckler (pictured, right)

‘And what we see is people making excuses for this; You won’t get any excuses from me. We must protect the Jewish people.”

Antisemitism has gone to the heart of the local election campaign after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green last Wednesday.

The stabbing was the latest in a wave of anti-Semitic attacks across the country, with the Jewish community pleading with the government to do more to tackle the rise in hate and violence.

Keir Starmer hosted a summit with ministers and police in Number 10 this morning after he was booed and jeered during a visit to the scene last week.

During yesterday’s confrontation at Barleylands Farm Park in Billericay, Essex, the woman interrupted Ms Badenoch again: ‘What about the increase in attacks on the Muslim people? Aren’t they worth protecting?’

Ms Badenoch responded: “The people who have died and who have been murdered are Jewish people in synagogues. Let’s stop pretending there’s something else going on.”

The woman shouted back, “But this isn’t about Jewish people,” to which Ms. Badenoch and others quickly interjected, “No, it is.” It’s very much about Jewish people.’

The Tory leader replied: ‘Say what you want, but that’s how the 1930s started, with people pretending not to see what was happening before their eyes. I’m not blind, I tell people the truth.’

The woman interrupted him again and said, “It [the 1930s] also started with politicians who pandered to the right and implemented racist policies.’

Mrs Badenoch said calmly: ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with you, you just have to accept that.’

The woman shouted: ‘Yes, we know where you stand, pandering to the right,’ to which Ms Badenoch replied: ‘I’m right-wing, yes, and I’m very proud of being right-wing – I don’t pander to the far right.’

The party leader finally said as she left, “What I do is support the Jewish people out of the kind of ignorance that people like you put out, and I will never be intimidated by it.”

The crowd clapped as Ms Badenoch left after the tense altercation.

In recent months we have seen what is believed to be the worst wave of anti-Semitic attacks on British Jews in recent years.

These include Jewish teenagers being threatened with knives in a subway station, Jewish businesses being targeted in arson attempts, and diners at a kosher restaurant being attacked.

Two worshipers were killed and several injured in a terror attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester in October 2025.

The UK threat level was raised from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’ for the first time in more than four years last Thursday, following the stabbing in Golders Green on Wednesday.

The stabbings followed a series of attacks in March when ambulances from a Jewish volunteer emergency service were set on fire, alongside further reports of attempted arson and attacks on synagogues in north London.

Sir Keir is under increasing pressure to ban pro-Palestinian marches over anti-Semitic chants.

A major Gaza march will take place in London on May 16, at the same time as the march led by far-right agitator Tommy Robinson.

Ms Badenoch today warned that British Jews are being ‘singled out, threatened and harassed in ways that should shame anyone in public life’.

“If we don’t stand up now and stop this rise in anti-Semitism, why would we say ‘Never Again’ on Holocaust Memorial Day?

‘Because that’s how it starts. I’m not willing to play along with the pretense that this is normal, or manageable, or just an example of intergroup tension. It really isn’t. It’s targeted hatred and it’s getting worse.”

The Prime Minister used this morning’s meeting to lay the blame on Iran and warned Iran and other states that attempts to stir up anti-Semitism in Britain ‘will not be tolerated’.

He has pledged an additional £1 million for Jewish communities in the wake of the attacks in London and Manchester.