Following the crushing defeat of “The Tories” in the UK General Election on 4 July this year, former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation as Tory leader, and the lengthy process of choosing a new leader, Kemi Badenoch was named as new leader shortly after mid-day today (2nd November) Spanish time.
Why am I reporting this on a blog about Spanish news? Because the one million or so British people who live in Spain will surely have an interest in who is the new leader of the opposition.
So, who is Kemi Badenoch?
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch née Adegoke, was born on 2 January 1980 in Wimbledon, London.
She is one of three children born to Nigerian Yoruba parents. Her father, Femi Adegoke, was a GP and her mother, Feyi Adegoke, was a professor of physiology.
Badenoch spent her childhood living in Lagos, Nigeria, and in the United States, where her mother lectured.
She returned to the UK at the age of 16 to live with a friend of her mother's owing to the deteriorating political and economic situation in Nigeria, which had affected her family.
Although a British citizen and born in the UK, during her parliamentary maiden speech Badenoch stated that she was "to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant".
She has served as the (MP) for North West Essex, previously Saffron Walden, since 2017.
Badenoch gained A Levels from Phoenix College, a further education college in Morden, south London, whilst working at a branch of McDonald's among other jobs.
During this time, she said she "became working class".
Badenoch studied Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sussex, completing a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in 2003.
Early career
.jpg)
She initially worked within the IT (Information Technology sector, first as a software engineer at Logica (later CGI Group) from 2003 to 2006. While working there she read Law part-time at Birkbeck, University of London, graduating as Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2009.
Badenoch then worked as a systems analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, before pursuing a career in consultancy and financial services, working as an associate director at private bank and wealth manager Coutts from 2006 to 2013 and later a digital director for The Spectator from 2015 to 2016.
Now she takes over as the Conservative Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition. She is the third woman to lead the party and the first black woman.
Official portrait 2024
Watch this space …..
© Paul Whitelock
Acknowledgements:
Sky News Online
Wikipedia
Photos:
Paul Whitelock
Tags:
Conservative Party, Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, Lagos, Leader of the Opposition, Nigeria, Rishi Sunak, Robert Jenrick, Sky News Online, Tories, Tory, Wikipedia, Wimbledon