Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has welcomed the label of "culture warrior," declaring her pride in defending traditional values and Conservative principles during a speech in Washington, DC.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the International Democracy Union, a global alliance of center-right parties, Badenoch remarked that the term "culture warrior," often used pejoratively by critics, resonates with her. Referring to her heritage, she quipped,
“My grandfather told me I was descended from warriors, so I am keeping up the tradition.”
During her visit, Badenoch met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson to discuss fostering alliances among conservative movements across the West. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she mentioned their discussions on a "center-right resurgence," though she is not scheduled to meet President-elect Donald Trump during her trip.
Badenoch's speech focused on her belief in defending cultural traditions and freedoms, including free markets, free speech, and equality under the law. She accused left-wing movements of undermining these values through "oppression narratives," identity politics, and "radical green absolutism" in the environmental movement.
She also criticized modern feminism, stating, “Feminism doesn’t know what a woman is anymore,” and reiterated her opposition to gender-neutral policies, such as self-certification of transgender identity and gender-neutral toilets.
Known for her robust, "anti-woke" views, Badenoch has gained popularity among Conservative activists. Her stance on issues such as immigration, institutional racism, and equality legislation has often sparked controversy. In Parliament, she has resisted expanding discrimination protections, arguing against what she sees as the misuse of equalities law for personal agendas.
Badenoch, who became leader of the Conservative Party last month, emphasized the need for conservatives to adopt "muscular liberalism" to counteract what she described as activist government overreach. “If we don’t defend our culture, who will?” she asked. Her leadership tenure will test her ability to translate these beliefs into policies capable of revitalizing Conservative fortunes.
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