Overview

• Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, declared in an interview that she does not consider sandwiches 'real food' and described lunch breaks as 'for wimps.'
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended sandwiches as a 'great British institution,' citing their cultural and economic significance, including an £8 billion annual contribution to the UK economy.
• Badenoch’s remarks have drawn comparisons to past political controversies involving food, such as Ed Miliband’s infamous bacon sandwich photo and Dominic Raab’s rigid lunch habits.
• The British Sandwich Association criticized Badenoch’s comments, emphasizing the historical and cultural importance of sandwiches in the UK since their invention in 1762 by the Earl of Sandwich.
• Badenoch responded to the backlash by accusing Starmer of prioritizing trivial issues over addressing farmers' concerns, linking the debate to broader political disagreements.