Seemingly at the forefront of people’s minds, though, is Badenoch’s position as a black woman in Parliament. Whether recognised as a point of commendation or prejudiced disaproval, Badenoch’s contributions – as the Tory party’s first black leader, and thus black female leader too – have been viewed with an overt acknowledgement of race and gender. Most nonsensical and notable of her critics during the grapple for Tory leadership was veteran Conservative MP Christopher Chope, who opined that Badenoch, as a mother of three, would be too ‘preoccupied with her own children’ to adequately perform her role as leader of HM Official Opposition, and would instead support of her rival, Robert Jenrick – father of three.
After landing fourth in the race to replace Johnson in 2022, Badenoch was appointed as International Trade Secretary by Truss as well as Minister for Women and Equality shortly after by Truss’s successor Sunak. Most recently Badenoch was made Secretary of State for Business and Trade. After such a demonstration of capability shown by undertaking these three posts simultaneously, one questions how she could be accused of being too ‘preoccupied’ by her position as a mother. Ultimately, however, Badenoch’s fractious and somewhat divisive approach to politics became her advantage in earning the votes of her party despite the discriminatory undertones embodied by her competition – but that is not to say she did so unscathed by controversy.
After such a demonstration of capability shown by undertaking these three posts simultaneously, one questions how she could be accused of being too ‘preoccupied’ by her position as a mother.
As a self-titled gender-critical feminist, Badenoch believes sex to be biological and immutable. This seems to be the apparent reason she so vehemently opposed the proposal of gender self-identification, a system which removes the process of medical assessment and diagnosis of gender dysphoria for legal gender recognition. Badenoch, along with many other feminists, regarded this proposal as a risk to the safety of women.
Focusing on the ‘numbers’ of immigration, Badenoch places an emphasis on differentiating between those who come to the UK to ‘contribute’ and those who may bring ‘foreign conflicts’. She therefore believes there is a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ type of culture, that there are those whose attitudes align with British values and there are those who would hinder the economic growth, political advancement, and social progression of the UK. Making her stance on foreign issues clear, she delineates her support for Israel as an ally and expresses her distaste for the ‘oppressor versus the oppressed’ narrative in regard to the conflict and its repercussions for Palestinians.
Badenoch also stresses the importance of an amicable relationship with the US, especially after its election saw Trump advance to presidency once again. Perhaps a cheap shot at Starmer, she demanded the Prime Minister apologise for British liberal rhetoric against Trump so that the UK’s precarious relationship with the new president may be somewhat strengthened.
As Badenoch's new career as the leader of the opposition progresses, we shall see whether her reign will bring a new start for the Conservatives or whether she too will fall into scandal and ruin.