UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has shared that her faith in God was shaken after learning about the case of Austrian sex offender Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter Elisabeth captive and repeatedly abused her for 24 years.
In an interview with the BBC, Badenoch explained that although she was never particularly religious growing up, she once considered herself a Christian apologist. She believed in God until 2008 when the story of Fritzl deeply affected her. She recalled reading about Elisabeth’s account and her daily prayers for rescue. Badenoch said it made her question her own beliefs: “I was praying for all sorts of stupid things… and I was getting my prayers answered. It’s like, why were those prayers answered and not this woman’s prayers? And it just— it was like someone blew out a candle.”
While Badenoch described her feelings as a rejection of God, she clarified that she has not abandoned Christianity entirely. “I remain a cultural Christian,” she said, adding that she values the Christian principles that underpin British society. “I want to protect certain things because I think the world that we have in the UK is very much built on many Christian values.”
Badenoch’s maternal grandfather was a Methodist minister. In the same interview, she also discussed various issues, including leadership, values, and the mental health of young people.
In the past, Badenoch has expressed strong support for religious freedom. In 2024, she defended Scottish politician Kate Forbes’ right to express her Christian views on social issues, even though they disagreed on topics such as same-sex marriage. “If you’re asking me to condemn someone for their religious views, you’ve misunderstood the role of a Minister for Equality,” Badenoch stated at the time, praising Forbes for her honesty.
Although she does not practice religion herself, Badenoch emphasized her understanding of how religion shapes people’s lives. “I understand what it means to people and how they live their lives. Stopping people from saying what they really feel is overly draconian,” she added.
