Kemi Baldenoch Speaks On Living The British Dream As The Saffron Walden’s First-Ever Female Member Of Parliament

Kemi Baldenoch became Saffron Walden’s First-Ever Female Member Of Parliament in June after securing over 37, 000 votes.

    

Kemi made her maiden speech in the House of Commons, where she talked about her journey from being a common Nigerian girl to an immigrant, who is now the MP of Essex.

In her speech, she revealed the lack of basic amenities as well as her experience with poverty, which she does not wish on anyone.

“Growing up in Nigeria I saw real poverty and experienced it. Going without electricity, doing my homework by candlelight because the state electricity board could not provide power. Fetching water a mile away in heavy, rusty buckets because the nationalised water could not get water to flow from the taps…..”

According to her, there are few countries in the world where one can go, and find acceptance from being an immigrant to a parliamentarian.

“Michael Howard spoke of the “British dream”: people choosing this country because of its tolerance and opportunity. It is a land where Nigerian girl can move here, aged 16, be accepted as British and have the great honour of representing Saffron Walden.”

Kemi explained that while growing up in Nigeria, she saw the United Kingdom as a beacon, a shining light, and a promise of a better life.

According to her, the political institutions of UK may not always be held in high esteem, she believes that it symbolises the greatness in the country.

“When I walk down these corridors and stand in this chamber, once graced by my heroes, Winston Churchill, Airey Neave and Margaret Thatcher- I am filled with nothing but awe, respect and pride for all that it stands for.”

That vision of a ‘global Britain’ that the minister referred to is a project that, as a young African girl, I dreamed of becoming part of. As a British woman, I now have the great honour of delivering that project for my constituents in the greatest parliament on earth.