Olukemi “Kemi” Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch, born on January 2, 1980, is a prominent British politician & Lawyer who has made history as the first Black person to serve as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. She has been the Member of Parliament for North West Essex (formerly Saffron Walden) since 2017. Throughout her political career, Badenoch has held key positions in government, including Cabinet roles under Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024. Known for her outspoken views on limited government and strong leadership, she gained national attention during the 2022 Conservative leadership race.
Wiki
Full Name: Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch
Date of Birth: January 2, 1980
Place of Birth: London, United Kingdom
Origin: Nigerian descent (Her parents are originally from Nigeria)
Nationality: British, Nigerian
Profession: Politician, Computer/Software Engineer, Lawyer
Political Party: Conservative Party
Net Worth: $3 Million
Early Life & Education
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke, popularly known as Kemi Badenoch, was born on January 2, 1980, in Wimbledon, London, to Nigerian Yoruba parents. Her mother, Feyi, traveled to the UK to give birth before the British Nationality Act of 1981 abolished automatic birthright citizenship. Shortly after her birth, Kemi returned to Nigeria with her family, where she spent much of her early life. She is one of three children; her father, Femi Adegoke, was a general practitioner who later founded a publishing company and became an advocate for Yoruba rights, while her mother, Feyi, was a physiology professor who lectured in Nigeria and the United States. She is also a first cousin once removed of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Kemi’s childhood was marked by her experiences in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer. She has often described her upbringing in Nigeria as “tough,” explaining that her family, though middle-class, faced challenges such as inflation and periods of poverty. She grew up in the Surulere neighborhood and attended the International School of Lagos, where she experienced the realities of limited resources, such as irregular access to water and electricity. At the age of 16, Kemi moved to the UK to live with a family friend due to the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Nigeria.
In the UK, Kemi pursued her education with determination. She studied A-levels in biology, chemistry, and mathematics at Phoenix College in Morden, South London, while working part-time jobs, including a stint at McDonald’s. During this period, she has said she “became working class,” gaining firsthand experience of life in the UK’s working community. Her academic journey led her to the University of Sussex, where she earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Computer Systems Engineering in 2003.
Following her studies, Kemi launched her career in the IT sector, working as a software engineer at Logica (now CGI Group) from 2003 to 2006. While working full-time, she pursued her passion for law, studying part-time at Birkbeck, University of London, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2009. Kemi’s professional trajectory then shifted to financial services, where she held notable roles such as a systems analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland and an associate director at Coutts, a prestigious private bank and wealth management firm, from 2006 to 2013.
Kemi later transitioned into consultancy and digital media, becoming the digital director of ‘The Spectator’ magazine from 2015 to 2016. These roles, combining technology, finance, and communication, reflect her versatile skills and adaptability, laying the groundwork for her future career in public service and politics. Her rich and diverse background, encompassing experiences across continents and industries, underscores her resilience and commitment to personal growth.
Political Career
Kemi Badenoch began her political journey in 2005 when she joined the Conservative Party at the age of 25. Her foray into politics was marked by her candidacy in the 2010 general election, where she contested the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency. Despite her dedication, she finished third, trailing behind Labour incumbent MP Tessa Jowell and Liberal Democrat candidate Jonathan Mitchell.
In 2012, Badenoch ran for a seat in the London Assembly during the assembly elections, placed fifth on the Conservative Party’s London-wide list. However, the Conservatives secured only three seats on the list, and she was not elected at the time.
Her political breakthrough came in 2015 when Victoria Borwick was elected to the House of Commons, vacating her seat in the London Assembly. With the third and fourth-placed candidates on the list—Suella Fernandes (now Suella Braverman) and another—also moving on to Westminster, Badenoch ascended to the Assembly as the next candidate on the list. She retained her seat during the 2016 London Assembly elections, serving until 2017, when she was succeeded by fellow Conservative Susan Hall.
A staunch advocate of Brexit, Badenoch supported the Leave campaign in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum. Her position reflected her alignment with the principles of sovereignty and national independence, key issues that would later shape her political ethos.
Badenoch’s early political career was not without controversy. In 2018, she revealed that, as a prank, she had hacked into the website of Harriet Harman, the then Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, over a decade earlier. Although she offered an apology, the incident was reported to Action Fraud, the UK’s cybercrime reporting agency. Despite the controversy, her apology was accepted by Harman, and the matter did not derail her growing political career.
Through persistence and a commitment to her principles, Badenoch established herself as a rising star within the Conservative Party, navigating both challenges and opportunities on her path to prominence. Her experiences in both local and national politics laid the foundation for her ascent in the political sphere.
Parliamentary Career
Kemi Badenoch entered Parliament in 2017, winning the Conservative stronghold of Saffron Walden with a decisive majority. In her maiden speech, she praised Brexit as a vote of confidence in the UK and cited Churchill, Airey Neave, and Margaret Thatcher as her inspirations. Early in her parliamentary career, she joined the 1922 Executive Committee, served on the Justice Select Committee, and was appointed Conservative Party Vice Chair for Candidates in 2018. She supported Theresa May’s Brexit deal and later backed Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement in 2019.
Badenoch gained attention for her stance on controversial issues, including criticism from Labour MPs over comments regarding a colleague’s delayed caesarean for a Brexit vote. She backed Michael Gove in the 2019 Conservative leadership race and was re-elected that December with an increased majority.
Badenoch was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families by Boris Johnson in 2019. She later became Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Equalities in 2020. During her tenure, she faced criticism for publicly sharing correspondence with a journalist, a move condemned by press organizations but defended by Downing Street.
In 2021, Badenoch was promoted to Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities. However, she resigned in July 2022, citing dissatisfaction with Johnson’s leadership, particularly his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.
Following Boris Johnson’s resignation, Badenoch announced her candidacy for Conservative Party leader, positioning herself as a proponent of limited government and a critic of the net-zero emissions target. Despite being a relatively junior minister, she gained significant attention as an “insurgent candidate” but was eliminated in the fourth round of voting. She refrained from endorsing any other candidate.
When Liz Truss became Prime Minister in September 2022, Badenoch was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade. After Truss’s resignation a month later, Badenoch endorsed Rishi Sunak as the “serious, honest leader” the country needed.
Rishi Sunak retained Badenoch as Secretary of State for International Trade and added the role of Minister for Women & Equalities in October 2022. In a February 2023 reshuffle, she became the first Secretary of State for the new Department for Business and Trade, combining her trade responsibilities with business and investment.
Badenoch has faced scrutiny for approving a political donor’s appointment to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, though no rules were found to be broken. She has also taken controversial stances, such as scaling back the repeal of EU laws, a decision criticized by Brexit advocates.
Notable achievements under her leadership include signing an agreement for the UK to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in July 2023. However, trade negotiations with Canada stalled in 2024 over the UK’s refusal to lift a ban on hormone-treated beef, resulting in higher tariffs on British exports like cheese.
Badenoch has also addressed cultural issues, including concerns about gender-neutral toilets in schools, citing health impacts on female students as evidence. She remains a prominent and influential figure within the Conservative Party, despite divided opinions on her policies.
Early Opposition and the 2024 Leadership Bid
Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Kemi Badenoch’s constituency, Saffron Walden, was abolished and replaced with North West Essex. In the 2024 general election, Badenoch successfully contested the new constituency, securing her seat in Parliament with 35.6% of the vote and a narrow majority of 2,610. Despite her victory, the Conservative Party suffered a significant defeat in the election, leading to her appointment as the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government. In this role, she was vocal in her criticisms of Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, further cementing her position as a prominent, albeit divisive, figure within the party.
In July 2024, ‘The Guardian’ reported allegations of bullying within the Department for Business and Trade during Badenoch’s tenure as Secretary of State. The report claimed that at least three officials working under her had accused her of creating an intimidating and hostile work environment, with instances of staff being publicly humiliated and left in tears. The department had reportedly held a “town hall” meeting in December 2023 to address low morale. Badenoch vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as smear campaigns orchestrated by disgruntled former staff and accusing ‘The Guardian’ of acting on behalf of the Labour Party. A spokesperson for the department confirmed that no formal complaints or investigations were filed regarding her behavior, and Badenoch dismissed the claims as attempts to “cover up incompetence” by her critics.
On July 28, 2024, Badenoch announced her bid to lead the Conservative Party, following the resignation of the incumbent leader. Her campaign, chaired by former Planning Minister Rachel Maclean, got off to a dramatic start. In the lead-up to her announcement, she publicly criticized “dirty tricks” among rival candidates after ‘The Spectator’ published excerpts from a years-old blog post by a user named “Kemi,” which contained unflattering remarks. Badenoch dismissed the publication as a distraction but remained undeterred in her leadership ambitions.
Initially considered the frontrunner in the leadership contest, Badenoch’s campaign gained widespread attention for her direct rhetoric and staunch criticism of civil service inefficiencies. Speaking at the 2024 Conservative Party Conference, she controversially remarked that “5–10% of civil servants are so bad they should be in prison,” accusing some of leaking official secrets and undermining ministers. This drew sharp criticism from civil servant unions, including the FDA, whose general secretary, Dave Penman, called on Badenoch to retract the statement or provide evidence to substantiate her claims.
Despite the controversies, Badenoch’s campaign maintained strong support among Conservative Party members. In the initial ballots, she placed second to Robert Jenrick in the first and second MP rounds, garnering 22 and 28 votes, respectively. However, polls conducted by YouGov and “ConservativeHome” consistently showed that she led in head-to-head matchups against other candidates among party members.
By the final round of voting among MPs, Badenoch narrowly emerged as the top candidate, securing 42 votes—one ahead of Jenrick and five ahead of James Cleverly, who was eliminated. In the decisive vote among party members, Badenoch defeated Jenrick with 56.5% of the vote, becoming the Leader of the Conservative Party.
Her victory marked a significant milestone, positioning Badenoch as a transformative figure within the party and setting the stage for a new chapter in the Conservative Party’s leadership under her stewardship.
Leader of the Opposition
Kemi Badenoch assumed leadership of the Conservative Party and the role of Leader of the Opposition in November 2024, following her victory in the party’s leadership election. In her acceptance speech, she pledged to “renew” the Conservative Party, emphasizing its dual responsibilities: to hold the Labour Government accountable and to prepare the groundwork for a return to power. Her speech outlined a vision of rejuvenation for the party, vowing to reconnect with voters and provide a credible alternative to the ruling government.
Badenoch’s election marked a historic moment in British politics. She became the first black leader of a major UK political party and the fourth woman to lead the Conservative Party, reinforcing her reputation as a trailblazer in modern British conservatism.
One of Badenoch’s first acts as leader was the appointment of Rebecca Harris as Chief Whip, signaling the beginning of her efforts to assemble a cohesive and dynamic Shadow Cabinet. Her selections demonstrated a focus on balancing experience with fresh perspectives, aiming to present a united front against the Labour Government.
However, Badenoch’s early days as Opposition Leader were not without controversy. In November 2024, she faced criticism from prominent Eurosceptic MPs, including Nigel Farage, for her decision to whip Conservative MPs into abstaining on a contentious vote. The legislation in question sought to introduce passports for household pets traveling between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland, a move seen by critics as undermining the Union and creating additional barriers within the UK. Eurosceptics argued that a strong Opposition should have decisively opposed the measure rather than allowing it to pass unchallenged.
Despite these challenges, Badenoch’s leadership signaled a new era for the Conservative Party. Her determination to steer the party back to its core principles while addressing modern political realities positioned her as a formidable opponent to the Labour Government, setting the stage for an era of robust political discourse and competition.
Awards & Recognitions
Kemi Badenoch’s impactful career in public service and her dedication to championing diversity and inclusion have earned her numerous accolades and widespread recognition. In 2016, she received the prestigious Rising Star award at the Women in Public Life Awards, celebrating her significant contributions to public life. The following year, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) People in the UK by the Powerlist, further cementing her reputation as a trailblazer in British politics.
In 2018, Badenoch was honored as Parliamentarian of the Year at the Women in Politics Awards for her exceptional work in politics and governance. The same year, she gained international recognition for her advocacy of diversity and inclusion, being listed among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Global Diversity by the Global Diversity List. Additionally, her contributions to technology and representation earned her a spot on the Financial Times’ 100 BAME Leaders in Technology list.
Badenoch’s accolades continued in 2019 when she received the MP of the Year award at the Patchwork Foundation’s MP Awards, an honor bestowed upon parliamentarians who go above and beyond in engaging with diverse communities. In 2020, her influence extended beyond the UK, as she was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential African Women by Avance Media, a testament to her impact on a global scale.
Personal Life
Kemi Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a professional with Deutsche Bank and a former Conservative councillor who served on Merton Borough Council from 2014 to 2018. Hamish also stood as a Conservative candidate for Foyle in the 2015 general election in Northern Ireland. Together, they have a close-knit family, raising two daughters and a son.
Social Media
Badenoch is an active presence on social media, where she engages with her followers and shares insights into her political work. She has amassed over 247,000 followers on Twitter (@Kemibadenoch) and more than 26,800 followers on Instagram (@kemibadenoch), reflecting her growing influence and popularity online.
Net Worth
Through her political career and related endeavors, Kemi Badenoch has achieved financial success. Her net worth is estimated to be $3 million, a reflection of her dedication and accomplishments in public service and beyond
