LONDON: Kemi Badenoch has made history as the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the U.K., taking the helm of the Conservative Party during a time of profound change.
An upbeat and outspoken libertarian, Badenoch believes the British state is in disarray, and she aims to rectify it through bold ideas and a commitment to smaller government.
Born Olukemi Adegoke in 1980 in London to affluent Nigerian parents, an accomplished doctor and a prominent academic Badenoch spent much of her early life in Nigeria. Her experiences there, especially during times of economic and social upheaval, have significantly shaped her political perspective. Reflecting on her childhood,
I grew up somewhere where the lights didn’t come on, where we ran out of fuel frequently despite being an oil-producing country. I don’t take what we have in this country for granted.
Returning to the U.K. at the age of 16 amid turmoil in Nigeria, Badenoch juggled part-time work at McDonald’s with her studies, eventually earning a degree in computer systems engineering from the University of Sussex, followed by a law degree.
Her academic journey set the stage for a career in financial services and public service.
In 2015, she was elected to the London Assembly, and two years later, she joined Parliament, rapidly ascending through the ranks in Boris Johnson’s government from 2019 to 2022.
However, she became part of a mass ministerial exodus that led to Johnson’s resignation amid a series of ethics scandals. Badenoch’s profile grew during her unsuccessful campaign to succeed him, which culminated in her appointment as trade secretary under Liz Truss and later as business secretary under Rishi Sunak.
Despite the Conservative Party suffering significant losses in the last national election, Badenoch retained her seat in Parliament. Known for idolizing Margaret Thatcher, the party’s first female leader, Kemi Badenoch embraces Thatcher’s free-market principles and aims to rewire, reboot and reprogram the British state.
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She envisions a low-tax economy driven by innovative ideas, often positioning herself as a disruptor in a political landscape that she believes is stagnant.
As a vocal critic of multiculturalism and a self-proclaimed opponent of “wokeness,” Badenoch has made headlines for her controversial statements. She has challenged ideas surrounding identity politics and government policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, advocating instead for traditional conservative values.
Supporters laud her charismatic and unapologetic style, believing it is the tonic the Conservative Party needs to recover from its recent electoral setbacks. During her leadership campaign, her supporters donned T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “Be more Kemi.
However, Badenoch is not without her critics. Some have raised concerns about her confrontational approach and the provocative nature of her comments, including her assertion that not all cultures are equally valid and her remarks on maternity pay, which she later walked back.
As Badenoch steps into her new role, the future of the Conservative Party hangs in the balance, and all eyes will be on her as she attempts to chart a new course for Britain amidst shifting political tides
