Like her political idol Margaret Thatcher, Kemi Badenoch, the new Conservative leader, sparks debate even within her own party. Known for her “anti-woke” views and no-nonsense demeanor, Badenoch has garnered significant support among Conservative grassroots and the party’s right-wing, triumphing over fellow conservative Robert Jenrick.
As the first Black woman to head a major UK political party, Badenoch has made history. However, she distances herself from identity politics and is unlikely to emphasize this milestone as she tackles the challenging task of revitalizing her party’s fortunes.
Badenoch’s critique of her party’s performance in the last general election centers on the belief that they “talked right, but governed left.” She asserts that to regain power, the Conservatives must “stop acting like Labour,” a principle central to her leadership campaign, which focused on shifting the British state’s mindset rather than detailing specific policies.
Born Olukemi Adegoke in Wimbledon in 1980, Badenoch grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States before returning to the UK at 16 due to Nigeria’s deteriorating political and economic conditions. After completing her A-levels in South London while working at McDonald’s, she pursued a degree in computer engineering at Sussex University, later earning a law degree and working in IT and finance.
