Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, sparked a lively political debate Thursday after declaring that sandwiches are “not real food.”
In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch shared her disdain for the popular lunch item, saying she would “not touch bread if it’s moist.”
When asked about her lunch habits, Badenoch, who was elected to lead the UK opposition party in November, revealed that she’s often too busy to eat lunch but occasionally enjoys a steak. “What’s a lunch break? Lunch is for wimps,” she said, adding that she eats while working. “Sometimes I will get a steak,” she added, emphasizing that she’s “not a sandwich person” and considers sandwiches more of a breakfast food.
Her comments drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office. A spokesperson for Starmer expressed surprise at Badenoch’s choice of a steak for lunch and defended the sandwich as a “great British institution.” The spokesperson highlighted that the British Sandwich Association estimates sandwiches contribute £8 billion to the UK economy annually.
This is not the first time food debates have played a role in British politics. In 2015, former Labour leader Ed Miliband faced ridicule over an awkwardly eaten bacon sandwich, while former Prime Minister Liz Truss was famously compared to a sandwich filling. Starmer’s spokesperson also noted that the prime minister enjoys a tuna sandwich or a cheese toastie from time to time.
