Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch spent her childhood between Nigeria and the US, before returning to the UK aged 16, alone, with just £100. Despite such challenging circumstances, she built a highly successful career in the technology and financial services sectors. Badenoch was also director of The Spectator. She was the first woman to represent her constituency. Ideologically, Badenoch leans to the right of her party; her maiden speech pronounced Brexit to be “the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom”. She then joined the 1922 Executive Committee and was appointed to the Justice Select Committee. A rising star, she was selected as vice chairman of the Conservative Party in 2018, making her responsible for nominating candidates for the 2022 general election. Badenoch also clearly impressed prime minister Boris Johnson, who appointed her minister for children and families following his election, making her the first woman of African origin in cabinet. In October 2020, Badenoch reinforced the government’s opposition to teaching critical race theory, such as white privilege, in schools. Since 2020, she has been Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and a member of the Public Accounts Committee.