Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on Kemi Badenoch to disclose details of her claimed offer from Stanford University at age 16, after former admissions staff said her account was implausible. The controversy centres on Badenoch's assertion that she received a place to study medicine, or pre-med, based solely on SAT results and was offered a partial scholarship, which former admissions officers say is impossible as Stanford does not make offers on that basis.
Jon Reider, who was the admissions officer for international students during the period of Badenoch's application, told the Guardian he had not offered her a place. Multiple former staff and US academics have confirmed that Stanford has never made offers based only on SATs, even for exceptional cases. Badenoch defended her claim on Monday, stating she remembered the letters arriving and that she had done well in her SATs, but acknowledged she no longer has the paperwork and accused the Guardian of relying on hearsay.
Labour MP Peter Prinsley, a former hospital consultant, wrote to Badenoch asking her to clarify whether she applied to Stanford and whether a place and financial aid were offered. A Labour source said: 'Honesty and integrity aren’t optional qualities for those who serve as the leader of His Majesty’s official opposition. The uncertainty surrounding Kemi Badenoch’s Stanford University claims raises important questions that the public deserve to know the answers to.'
Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson also wrote to Badenoch, urging her to come clean. Wilson said: 'If Kemi Badenoch cares about restoring trust, she should start by explaining her own academic record. Failing to come clean over these allegations would send a message to the thousands of pupils who just received their exam results that their hard work does not matter and that you can just bluff your way to the top.'
