Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party, making her the first Black woman to lead a major UK party. Following a disastrous general election for the party, where they lost 251 seats, Badenoch won the leadership race with 53,806 votes. She has described the task ahead for her party as tough but simple, as they are now in the opposition. Despite not being a clear favorite to win the leadership race initially, Badenoch has managed to gain support from the Tory grassroots by positioning herself as an anti-woke politician with controversial views on LGBT+ rights, immigration, and colonialism.
Born on January 2, 1980, in Wimbledon, southwest London, Kemi Badenoch is the daughter of Nigerian Yoruba parents, with a mother who is a GP and a father who is a professor of physiology. She spent her childhood in the United States and Lagos, Nigeria, before returning to London for her A-levels and later pursuing a degree in computer science at the University of Sussex. After working in the IT sector, she completed a law LLB degree and worked in the financial services and consultancy sector, including a brief stint at The Spectator as a digital director.
Kemi Badenoch’s husband, Hamish, met her while working as a Conservative activist in the Dulwich and West Norwood Tory association and later became her campaign manager. Hamish has a background in journalism, consulting, and financial services, currently working as a global head of real estate transformation at Deutsche Bank. The couple has been married since 2012 and has three children together. Despite initially meeting through political campaigning, their relationship grew into a marriage over time.
Badenoch has faced backlash for her anti-trans views as the Minister for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities. Her opposition to allowing trans employees to self-identify in the workplace and gender-neutral toilets has drawn criticism from figures like actor David Tennant, who called for her to “shut up.” Badenoch responded by defending her views and criticizing those who prioritize applause from organizations like Stonewall over the safety of women and girls. Despite facing controversy, Badenoch remains steadfast in her beliefs and continues to advocate for her positions on these issues.
Despite her controversial views, Kemi Badenoch has risen to become the leader of the Conservative Party, a position that comes with significant responsibility and challenges as the party transitions into the opposition. Her leadership style and policies on issues like LGBT+ rights, immigration, and colonialism will be closely watched in the coming months. With the support of her husband, Hamish, and their three children, Badenoch will navigate the turbulent waters of British politics as she leads her party into the future. It remains to be seen how her tenure as leader will unfold and how her views on various contentious issues will shape the party’s direction.
