Kemi Badenoch just became the first black woman to lead the UK’s Conservative Party, the oldest in British politics, colloquially known as “the Tories.” She’s also 44, has three children, grew up in Nigeria, actually worked at McDonald’s (unlike some American politicians who have claimed to), didn’t go to Oxford or Cambridge, and has a master’s degree in computer engineering. Not exactly your typical Tory party leader profile. But it’s Kemi Badenoch who has just inherited a Conservative Party that has dominated British politics for decades until Labour Party leader Keir Starmer became prime minister earlier this year. The Britain that Starmer inherited—the Britain that Conservatives like David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak left behind—is a country with enormous debt, a shrinking GDP, a huge immigration challenge, and arguably a national identity crisis. Or as Free Press columnist and British historian Niall Ferguson has bleakly put it, “it seems that the UK has a national suicide wish.” Can Kemi Badenoch, the woman who has been compared to Margaret Thatcher, turn her party—and ultimately, her country—around? How will the rising star in British politics offer something different than the past five Tory leaders who served before her? And can she beat out not just the Labour left but also the growing threat from a very energized hard right? If you liked what you heard from Honestly, the best way to support us is to go to TheFP.com and become a Free Press subscriber today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The woman I'm sitting across from right now just became the first Black woman to lead the oldest political party in the UK, the Conservatives, otherwise known as the Tories, which have been around since 1834, almost 200 years. She'll probably resent me for noting that fact, given her fierce opposition to identity politics. But I can't help but point out the historic first.
I'll also note that she's 44, has three children, grew up in Nigeria, actually worked at McDonald's, unlike a lot of American politicians who have claimed to, didn't go to Oxford or Cambridge, and has a master's degree in computer engineering. Not exactly your typical Tory party leader profile.
But Kemi Badenoch is the one who just inherited a conservative party that has basically dominated British politics since the 20th century, until Labour Party leader Keir Starmer became prime minister earlier this year.
The Britain that Starmer inherited, the Britain that conservatives like David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak left behind, is a country with enormous debt, a shrinking GDP, a huge immigration challenge, and arguably a national identity crisis. Or as Free Press columnist and British historian Neil Ferguson has bleakly put it, it seems that the UK has a national suicide wish.
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