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Prime Minister refuses to respond to Kemi Badenoch over 'paedo defenders' comment
Kemi Badenoch refused to apologize for calling Labour the 'paedo defenders party' during PMQs, citing reports of voter language and an arrested Labour MP, sparking strong Commons backlash.
- On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to respond to Mrs Badenoch during a visit to Warbottle Academy near Newcastle after she called Labour the `paedo defenders party` during Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions.
- Amid reporting by The Times, the comment drew on accounts that female Labour MPs had been shouted at earlier this month, and Kemi Badenoch referenced a former MP arrested for child sex offences while criticising Labour.
- Survivors and relatives, including Labour MP Natalie Fleet and Katie Amess, condemned the line as inflammatory, with Lindsay Hoyle calling for calm in the Commons.
- Badenoch refused to apologise, saying she would `absolutely not apologise` on Wednesday evening and defended the remark on an LBC phone‑in, saying `These people know how to dish it, but they don’t want to take it.`
- The Prime Minister emphasised policy, pointing to recent measures including the energy price cap that cuts `117 pounds` off energy bills, and froze rail fares and prescription charges.
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Tory leader Kemi Badenoch refuses to apologise after ‘paedo defenders’ jibe
The Tory leader made the comments at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources9
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Right
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
45% Right
L 33%
C 22%
R 45%
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