Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has ignited a firestorm of criticism after drawing a highly controversial parallel between rejecting belief in God and the horrific crimes of Austrian rapist Josef Fritzl.
The business secretary made the inflammatory comparison during a House of Commons debate on Wednesday while opposing an amendment to the Equality Act that would include protections for non-religious beliefs.
Controversial Remarks in Parliament
Badenoch argued against giving philosophical beliefs like humanism the same legal protections as religious faith, stating: "If you reject religion, you can believe anything you want - you could believe that Josef Fritzl was right to keep his daughter in the basement."
The reference to Fritzl - who imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth for 24 years, fathering seven children with her through repeated rape - left fellow MPs visibly shocked.
Immediate Backlash
Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson condemned the remarks as "deeply offensive", telling The Independent: "To suggest that non-religious people have no moral compass is not just wrong but insulting to millions of Britons."
Labour MP Stella Creasy called the comparison "dangerous and irresponsible", while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey described it as "wholly inappropriate".
Government Response
When pressed for comment, a government spokesperson defended Badenoch's right to express her views but declined to endorse the specific comparison. The business secretary has not yet issued any public apology for her remarks.
The controversial intervention comes as Badenoch positions herself as a potential future Conservative leader, with her unapologetic style appealing to the party's right wing but frequently sparking controversy.
