By Kemi Badenoch MP
I've always been a Conservative. I didn't know it when I was younger, but I certainly was.
Margaret Thatcher was an inspiration to me, even as a child growing up in Nigeria. Her achievements as a woman in politics in the 1970s and 1980s made her a global icon. Moving to the UK, I learned more about her values of self-reliance, personal responsibility and free markets which I very much share.
I joined the Conservative Party in 2005. At the time, many people assumed the Labour Party was the party for ethnic minorities but I knew my values and so many others from immigrant have values of personal responsibility and entrepreneurship that are more aligned with Conservatives.
Becoming an MP is a combination of perseverance and luck. Most people who stand for election will not win and will lose at least once. It is very easy to get disillusioned but I had a lot of encouragement and support from my party, from the party chairman to members of my local association and in fact, still do even now as a minister!
I'm proud of the party's record on diversity. It is well known that the Conservative Party has now had 2 female Prime Ministers but less about the amazing work the Prime Minister has done in attracting a more diverse talent-pool. This has been reflected in his appointment of the most ethnically diverse Cabinet in history.
In 2009, we had 2 MPs from ethnic minority backgrounds. Following the 2019 election we now have 22 including 5 members of the cabinet and several like myself in other ministerial positions.
We have achieved this in a meritocratic way -encouraging and developing the best candidates and never with quotas or identity politics.
Identity is multi-faceted and Conservatives do not pigeonhole people based on visible traits. I am black, and also a woman, a mother, a politician, an engineer, British and Nigerian. All of these things have an effect on my views and my politics more so than my skin colour.
That is why I set objectives during my time as Vice Chair to encourage candidates with a breadth of talent and diversity of experience to stand. Today our party is as representative as possible of our country’s diversity. To me that means increasing the number of nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers and those with STEM backgrounds, alongside encouraging ethnic minorities, women and LGBT people. I’m glad that I’ve also been able to continue this work beyond the party candidates process, and in my government roles as Treasury and Equalities minister.
The advice I would give to women specifically who want to get involved is "Don't let imposter syndrome stop you". Politics isn't easy, but the earlier you get involved, the more you will learn. Help others on their political journeys by getting involved in campaigning and they will help you in return - and you will make friends for life!