Kemi Badenoch has achieved a significant victory in the Conservative Party leadership election, becoming the first black woman to head a major political party in the United Kingdom. The 44-year-old former minister won decisively against fellow right-wing contender Robert Jenrick, 42, with a margin of 12,418 votes.
She succeeds Rishi Sunak, who led the party to a notable defeat in the July general election, resulting in the Conservatives securing a record low of 121 seats in the House of Commons. In her victory address, Ms. Badenoch expressed her appreciation and articulated her vision for “renewing” the party. “Our party is essential to the success of our country,” she stated, as reported by the BBC, emphasizing the need to recognize the errors made during the past 14 years in governance.
Here are some key details about Kemi Badenoch:
Born Olukemi Adegoke in London in 1980 to Nigerian parents—a physician and an academic—Kemi Badenoch spent a significant portion of her childhood in Nigeria.
She returned to the UK at the age of 16, working part-time at McDonald’s while pursuing her education. Ms. Badenoch studied computer systems engineering at the University of Sussex and subsequently obtained a law degree. She was elected to the London Assembly in 2015 and became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2017. Ms. Badenoch held various governmental positions under Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 2019 to 2022, including Trade Secretary and Business Secretary under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
Identifying as a libertarian, Badenoch advocates for a reduced government, lower taxes, and a free-market economy. She expresses admiration for Margaret Thatcher and seeks to reform the British state through innovative policies. Her campaign slogan encouraged supporters to “Be more Kemi.” Kemi Badenoch is married to banker Hamish Badenoch, and they have three children together.
