Engineer, hacker and Ron DeSantis fan: five things about Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch has taken on the role of leader of the Conservative party, and for numerous voters, she may still feel like a bit of a mystery. Even though she has served as a Member of Parliament for a number of years and held a position in the cabinet, there are key aspects about her that may not be widely known. Here are five facts you might find interesting about her.

She’s An Engineer, But Not A Bridge Builder

Throughout her campaign, Badenoch emphasized her engineering background, claiming it enabled her to approach issues analytically and without ideological constraints. While she is accurate in referring to herself as an engineer, it's important to note that her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Sussex were focused on computer systems engineering.

She later transitioned into a role as a software engineer before expanding her career into consulting and financial services. Although Badenoch has a law degree, which she earned through part-time studies at Birkbeck, University of London, she doesn't often highlight this aspect of her background.

"Ron DeSantis: A Shared Admiration"

Though Badenoch presented herself as the more moderate choice among the last two candidates, she is actually a passionate advocate for a sweeping, American-style culture war. She has gained the respect of Ron DeSantis, the staunch Republican governor of Florida, who has been actively fighting against what he perceives as the threat of "woke" ideology, including implementing bans on numerous books in school libraries.

Supporting Badenoch as the leader of the Conservative Party, DeSantis remarked that she “proudly represents the vibrant values” of conservatism. The two became acquainted when Badenoch served as trade secretary. DeSantis shared with a UK newspaper that she expressed her support for his policies, which have included various measures aimed at LGBTQ+ communities.

"She praised our efforts in Florida," DeSantis stated. "She assured us that they're aiming for the same goals in Britain."

Curious And Minor Fights She Chooses

One aspect of Badenoch that many voters recognize is her readiness to get involved in disputes, which some appreciate about her combative style. However, a few Conservative MPs are concerned that she may be a bit reckless in this approach.

One of the most notable instances occurred in 2021 when the somewhat obscure equalities minister used Twitter to criticize a journalist, labeling him as "creepy and bizarre" for asking what appeared to be standard questions. While Boris Johnson's No 10 office supported Badenoch, many officials and MPs were left puzzled by her reaction.

"At Times, She Challenges The Tory Right"

Although Badenoch is generally considered to align with the more populist wing of her party and has consistently backed leaving the EU, unlike Robert Jenrick, she doesn't enjoy universal support from the Brexit-supporting faction within the Conservative Party.

This goes back to 2023 when Badenoch, serving as business secretary, reversed a commitment to eliminate thousands of EU laws still on the UK’s legal framework by the year’s end. She framed this change as a practical decision, but it triggered strong backlash from Tory Brexit supporters like Mark Francois.

Some of the frustration stemmed from the decision itself, but a lot of it can also be attributed to Badenoch’s manner. When addressing an urgent question in the Commons, she exhibited what one onlooker described as “remarkable rudeness” at times.

Hacker Confesses To Breaching Harriet Harman's Site

Typically, when politicians are interviewed and prompted to share their most mischievous moment, they tend to share endearing stories about minor mischief. However, when Badenoch was posed with this question, she openly acknowledged a possible violation of the Computer Misuse Act, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Back in 2018, a video surfaced featuring Badenoch responding to a question. In the clip, the newly elected MP revealed, “Around a decade ago, I broke into a Labour MP's website and altered some content to make positive comments about the Tories.”

It was revealed that she had created a fabricated post on Harriet Harman’s website in 2008, claiming that Harman supported Boris Johnson in the London mayoral race, after figuring out the password for the site. Fortunately, Harman accepted her apology.