Kemi Badenoch dismisses sandwiches as “not real food,” sparking playful political banter with Keir Starmer

A lunchtime debate has erupted between two of Britain’s political heavyweights, with Kemi Badenoch and Keir Starmer at the centre of a rather unusual food fight. The Conservative Party leader recently made headlines with an unorthodox declaration about her lunch preferences, which drew a sharp response from the Labour Prime Minister. What started as a harmless comment quickly turned into a light-hearted yet pointed exchange about British food culture.

In an interview with The Spectator, Kemi Badenoch, known for her no-nonsense political style, revealed that lunch, for her, is purely functional. “Lunch is for wimps,” she said, adding that she often skips the traditional meal and works while eating instead. She described herself as someone who doesn’t have time for sandwiches, labelling them “not real food” and dismissing them as something only fit for breakfast. “Sometimes I’ll have a steak,” Badenoch quipped, further stating that she avoids “moist” bread.

Her comments quickly grabbed attention, particularly when she claimed that sandwiches didn’t even register as proper meals. “I don’t think sandwiches are real food,” she added, hinting at a preference for heartier fare.

Badenoch’s remarks didn’t go unnoticed by the Prime Minister’s office. A spokesman for Keir Starmer responded, noting that Starmer, in contrast to Badenoch’s steak-and-work routine, enjoys a more traditional British lunch: a sandwich. The spokesperson referred to sandwiches as “a great British institution” and highlighted that Starmer is partial to a tuna sandwich, though he occasionally enjoys a cheese toastie as well.

This clash of lunchtime choices didn’t end there. Badenoch, undeterred by the Prime Minister’s gentle jibe, took to social media to retort. In her post, she pointed out that Starmer appeared to have ample time to comment on her lunch preferences but no time to engage with more pressing issues, such as the concerns of British farmers. “The PM has time to respond to my jokes about lunch… but no time for the farmers who produce our food,” Badenoch wrote.

The playful spat soon gained traction beyond the political elite. Nigel Farage, former UKIP leader, also chimed in, offering his thoughts in a video where he could be seen sipping red wine at a restaurant. “Lunch is pretty cool,” he remarked, seemingly poking fun at the political leaders’ dining habits.

The debate drew an interesting response from the British Sandwich Association, a body that has long championed the simple sandwich. Jim Winship, a representative from the association, called Badenoch’s dismissive remarks “rubbish,” reminding the public of the vast popularity of sandwiches in the UK. According to Winship, 3.5 billion commercially-made sandwiches are eaten each year, underlining the nation’s enduring love for the lunchtime staple.

Winship also offered a brief history lesson, reminding everyone that the sandwich as we know it originated in 1762, when the Earl of Sandwich famously requested his meat to be served between slices of bread so he could continue playing cards without interruption. “Sandwiches are a part of our heritage,” Winship insisted, making the case for why the iconic snack should not be overlooked.

Interestingly, Badenoch isn’t the only public figure to openly disdain sandwiches. Actress Anna Maxwell Martin also recently expressed her dislike of the humble sandwich, going so far as to say that she’d refuse to even speak the word when on set. She joined a small but vocal group of individuals who see sandwiches as an inconvenient, uninspired food choice.

Of course, politicians have long been the subject of scrutiny when it comes to their lunch habits. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband made headlines in 2014 for his awkward handling of a bacon sandwich, an infamous image that many believe undermined his bid for Prime Minister. Rishi Sunak, now the Conservative leader, also received criticism during the general election for calling sandwiches his favourite meal.

It’s clear that what politicians choose to eat—whether a steak, a sandwich, or a salad—can sometimes say as much about their public persona as their policy positions. For now, the lunchtime clash between Badenoch and Starmer will likely remain a light-hearted point of discussion. However, with food continuing to be a surprisingly powerful political symbol, who knows what other culinary debates may emerge in the future.