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Kemi Badenoch, who has been leading the Conservative Party since 2024, shared insights into her political journey during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. She revealed that her initial motivation for joining the Conservatives was largely social—enjoying the camaraderie, attending parties, and spending time with young people. Reflecting on her university days, Badenoch noted that as her friends scattered across the globe, joining the party seemed like an enjoyable way to connect and engage. It was through this involvement that she met her husband, to whom she dedicated one of her chosen songs, Wet Wet Wet’s “Love is All Around.” Her interview took place shortly after several prominent Conservatives, including former minister Robert Jenrick, defected to Reform UK.
When questioned about how she intends to bring stability to the party, Badenoch emphasized that defections could actually contribute to strengthening the Conservatives. She explained that while losing team members is regrettable, parting ways with individuals whose main focus was personal ambition rather than national interest serves to clarify the party’s true character. Badenoch took over as party leader following its most significant electoral defeat and has faced challenges, including being surpassed in polls by Reform UK and experiencing substantial losses in the 2025 local elections. Despite these setbacks, she stressed the Conservative Party’s long history of over 200 years and described her leadership mission as ensuring the party’s survival. She also outlined a long-term strategy to regain voter support, acknowledging that progress would not always be smooth and sometimes would involve temporary setbacks.
Badenoch’s musical selections on the programme reflected her personal and political experiences. She cited Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” for its enduring wisdom and sympathy towards politicians, emphasizing its message about life’s inevitable truths such as aging and the flaws of politicians. The song “The Story of Tonight” from the musical Hamilton held particular significance for her; it reminded her of the moment in 2022 when, encouraged by a group of junior ministers who shared her political frustrations, she stood for the Conservative leadership for the first time. She recalled their supportive attitude, willing to take risks collectively: “if we look stupid, we’ll all look stupid together.” Her involvement in this period included participating in the wave of ministerial resignations that precipitated Boris Johnson’s departure from office.
Badenoch, originally from London but raised partially in Nigeria and the United States, described her upbringing as being immersed in British culture despite living abroad. She fondly recalled watching BBC shows such as Doctor Who, which sparked a lifelong interest in science fiction, reflected in her choice of 22 Marvel superhero films as a luxury. Discussing her early schooling, she contrasted the idyllic world portrayed in Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers books with her own harsh boarding school experience, which was more akin to a tough survival scenario. Identifying strongly with Essex culture, she shared how her straightforward and humorous personality helped her win the Conservative candidacy for Saffron Walden in 2017, despite having no prior ties to the area. Badenoch also spoke about her family’s mixed reactions to her political career, highlighting her late father’s pride and her mother’s skepticism, which fueled her determination to prove that politicians can be principled and committed public servants
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