A London Assembly member has been named as the Conservative candidate to contest the Saffron Walden seat at next month’s general election.
Kemi Badenoch, elected to the assembly as part of the Tory’s London-wide list, is the party’s spokeswoman for the economy, and also sits on the transport committee, and the policing and crime committee.
Prior to the assembly, Ms Badenoch was a director at Spectator magazine, and before that an associate director at Coutts & Co.
She holds two degrees in engineering and law, from Sussex University and Birkbeck College respectively. She is currently a board member for the Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life and for nine years was a non-executive director for a London housing association.
She has been chosen to stand after the incumbent Sir Alan Haselhurst announced he would not stand for re-election.The Conservative statement said Ms Badenoch’s other areas of interest include engineering and technology, social mobility and integration. She provides regular mentoring to women who wish to pursue careers in technology.
Ms Badenoch was recently a keynote speaker at the Conservative Progress Brexit conference where she explained her vision for a more united Britain outside of the EU.
She was selected by members of the Conservative Party in Saffron Walden at the Town Hall on Tuesday (May 2) night.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here