Farage and Badenoch Clash Over Italian PM Meloni's Alleged Backing

British right-wing leaders Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch are in an unusual rivalry to win the favor of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following a recent diplomatic visit by Badenoch to Rome. The unusual competition for Meloni’s attention has led to public disagreements between Farage’s Reform UK and the UK Conservative Party, as both accuse each other of spreading misleading claims about the Italian leader’s stance on domestic British politics.

The dispute began after a report in *The Times* suggested that during Badenoch’s meeting with Meloni in Rome, the Italian prime minister advised against a potential political alliance between the UK Conservatives and Farage’s Reform UK. Reform UK disputed the claim, and the article was later amended. However, sources close to Farage told *The Guardian* that Meloni had personally apologized to Farage for any confusion caused by the report. Reform UK also stated that Meloni’s team expressed dissatisfaction with the way the meeting had been portrayed in the media.

Meloni’s office has repeatedly emphasized that she does not wish to involve herself in British domestic politics. Despite this, Badenoch shared a celebratory photo with Meloni on social media after their meeting, praising her leadership style. The incident has since sparked criticism, including from former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick, now a Reform UK MP, who accused Badenoch of fabricating her account of the meeting. Farage further questioned the authenticity of Badenoch’s claims, stating that he had not seen any direct statements from Meloni herself.

The UK Conservative Party denied making false claims, accusing Reform UK of “peddling conspiracy theories” to distract from a recent financial controversy involving a £5 million donation to the party. Meloni, a prominent figure in European right-wing politics, rose to power in Italy in 2022 on an anti-migration and socially conservative platform. Since then, she has gained international influence, appearing on *Forbes*, *Time*, and *Politico*’s power lists. Her government is set to become Italy’s longest-serving administration on September 4 and remains ahead in polls ahead of next year’s election.

Raheem Kassam, a former adviser to Farage, defended Meloni’s reputation, stating that she is widely admired by right-wing figures such as Donald Trump for her resilience and leadership. He suggested that politicians like Badenoch could learn from Meloni’s ability to maintain stability and govern effectively. Despite occasional public clashes, Farage has continued to cultivate a relationship with Meloni, even as Trump has criticized her in the past.

In recent months, Meloni has also been involved in disputes with Trump, after he claimed she “begged” for a photo with him at the G7 summit. She responded with a defiant social media post, rejecting the accusation. Additionally, Meloni criticized Trump’s remarks about Pope Leo XIV, calling his comments “unacceptable” in light of her Catholic faith.

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