KEMI Badenoch, a Nigerian-born politician with a libertarian vision, has made history as the first Black leader of the UK’s Conservative Party. Known for her outspoken views on government reform, Badenoch plans to ‘rewire, reboot and reprogramme’ the British state, advocating for smaller government, lower taxes, and free-market policies to fix what she considers a ‘broken’ system.
Badenoch was born Olukemi Adegoke in 1980 to Nigerian parents—a doctor and an academic—before spending much of her childhood in Nigeria. Witnessing Nigeria’s economic instability left a deep impact on her political outlook. ‘I grew up where the lights didn’t come on, where we ran out of fuel despite being an oil-producing country,’ she told the BBC. ‘I don’t take what we have in this country for granted.’
Returning to the UK at age 16 during a period of Nigerian turmoil, Badenoch balanced part-time work with her studies, eventually earning degrees in computer systems engineering and law. Her career progressed from financial services to politics, where she first joined the London Assembly in 2015 and then entered Parliament in 2017. She has since held key government positions, including trade secretary and business secretary, roles that have bolstered her image as a problem-solver with an engineering mindset.
A conservative vision with Nigerian roots
Badenoch credits her Nigerian upbringing with shaping her drive to ‘make things work.’ She often references Margaret Thatcher as an inspiration, aspiring to lead the UK with similar free-market principles. Her policies include criticism of multiculturalism, opposition to ‘identity politics,’ and a strong stance against UK carbon reduction initiatives, positioning her as a disruptor within her party.
During her leadership campaign, Badenoch’s supporters donned ‘Be more Kemi’ T-shirts, echoing her bold and charismatic style as she worked to rally the Conservative Party after a severe electoral defeat to the Labour Party. However, her rise has not been without controversy. Badenoch has faced criticism for her remarks on cultural validity, maternity pay, and for clashing with civil servants. Yet, she remains undeterred, stating, ‘I speak my mind—and I tell the truth.’
As she steps into her role as the leader of a diminished Conservative presence in parliament, Badenoch’s leadership may signal a shift in the party’s approach, one shaped by her Nigerian heritage, her British experiences, and her promise to shake up the status quo.
