Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch finds unlikely backers in Nicki Minaj and Azealia Banks

    Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj

    US rappers Nicki Minaj and Azealia Banks have come out in praise of Kemi Badenoch, with the latter describing her as “fucking iconic”.

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    Throwing their weight behind the Conservative Party leader marks an unlikely moment of agreement between the two, given they have famously feuded in the past.

    Writing on X on Wednesday (May 13), Minaj responded to a clip of Badenoch mocking Wes Streeting’s leadership ambitions, writing: “The UK is truly one of a kind. They will portray her in film & TV one day…just like they did with Margaret Thatcher.”

    Speaking on Friday (May 15), Badenoch responded then, saying: “It was very flattering to hear Nicki Minaj compare me to Margaret Thatcher, who is a heroine of mine, and in fact a heroine to all Conservatives.

    “I do like her song ‘Starships’, I’ve been dancing to it for a long time, as do my children.

    “So it’s very flattering that even in the US they can see who is holding Labour to account – it’s the Conservatives, it is me, and that’s quite a nice thing to see.”