Badenoch Became Working Class?

When Kemi Badenoch became the first black female leader of a political party, the Tories felt so cosy inside. They had a warm glow saying "Look how inclusive we are a female leader and a black one to boot"! However, don't be fooled, identity politics is not for Ms. Badenoch. She is a darling of the right and you would be foolish to think otherwise.

A rabid Brexiteer, a rabid anti-immigration MP, an admirer of that old chestnut Margaret Thatcher. Ms. Badenoch was born in the UK, however, she spent much of her time in her parent's homeland Nigeria. She returned to the UK when she was 16. She received a typical middle-class education.

Like many students, Kemi worked to earn money (like she needed it). She worked at McDonald's cleaning toilets and "flipping burgers". This she claims made her "Working class" from "Middle Class". That in a sense, is true, one supposes. By working with working-class people she understood what it was like for many of us who do such jobs.

However, Kemi is still Middle Class. One might argue upper class now she is Leader of the Opposition. It's one thing to get alongside working-class people and understand them. But it's another thing to translate that understanding into practical policy. And so far, Ms. Badenoch remains a stereotypical right-wing Tory.

Sir Keir Starmer while making a speech at Pinewood Studios mocked Ms. Badenoch. The Leader of the Opposition thinks because she worked at the fast-food restaurant she became "Working Class"! Mr. Starmer added the remark "If I keep coming back (to Pinewood Studios) I could be the next James Bond"! Of course, people saw the irony of Sir Keir's joke and rolled in the aisles.

Kemi was none too pleased when she heard about Mr. Starmer's joke. She retorted that had a right-wing leader made such a statement he would have been called racist and told to resign. One can see where Ms. Badenoch is coming from. People rightly or wrongly associate fast-food jobs with ethnic minorities. Is she digging for ammunition to hit the Prime Minister? A woman who supposedly does not play identity politics is resorting to it to attack Sir Keir?

Many work at McDonald's and other places because it's a job. No ifs, no buts, no glitter, no gold, the plain fact is people need the money. Fast food restaurants are a quick way to earn a buck. Many people regard them as ten-a-penny jobs. Those who work in hospitality in general work hard. They work hard day and night in cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc, to provide us with a service. Often, they are treated like the bottom of the pile. They work in bad conditions and sometimes the pay doesn't always reflect their duties. Thankfully, many well-known hospitality venues pay their workers a living wage. Thanks to government interventions. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's new package promises much for workers in all industries. Many will applaud Ms. Rayner for this while others not so much.

Finally, on a lighter note, can you imagine Sir Keir Starmer as James Bond? What would Sir Keir bring to the role? It would certainly be different to Daniel Craig's outing as the suave, sophisticated, womanising, chain-smoking, alcoholic, secret agent! One couldn't see Sir Keir embodying this persona and lifestyle. Or could one? An actor has to take on any role and on-screen embody the personality of the character they are playing. One can imagine in such a scenario, Kemi Badenoch being the nemesis of a Starmer Bond. We will never see such a scenario come to the big screen.

Instead, we see Starmer and Badennoch clash in parliament instead. And perhaps that is the way it is meant to be.