Tory leader Kemi Badenoch today reveals her surprise inspiration – Vanity Fair’s scheming social climber Becky Sharp.
The 46-year-old confesses an unexpected fondness for Thackeray’s 1848 novel and his ‘aspirational’ heroine in today’s episode of Desert Island Discs.
The mother of three says: ‘It is the one book of fiction that I have read twice. It was such a great book. I read it once at university and once just after. It was so funny. There is a lot of comedy in it and a lot of tragedy.
‘There is something about the character of Becky Sharp which resonates. I understand why she is doing what she is doing initially. She is aspirational.
‘She is born into circumstances she wants to change, the only option is to marry her way out of it, and then she doesn’t stop but she goes crazy, and she starts doing these terrible things.’
The novel – which was serialised by ITV in 2018 with Olivia Cooke taking the lead role – is set in Regency England and charts the exploits of the penniless Sharp who will do whatever it takes to reach the top of society.
She uses her sexual charms to seduce a string of men she thinks might be able to aid her cause, and also treats her best friend, the saintly Amelia Sedley, badly.
Mrs Badenoch says she regarded the novel as a warning rather than a blueprint for action.
Kemi Badenoch (pictured on December 1) has revealed her fondness for Thackeray’s 1848 novel
The mother-of-three also expressed her admiration for the book’s heroine Becky Sharp (Pictured above being portrayed by Olivia Cooke)
‘I remember the first time reading it thinking ‘Becky, what are you doing? This is a disaster’,’ she adds.
‘Knowing when to stop, quit while you are ahead, I think is a lesson that many people should learn. I wished that Becky Sharp had learned to quit while she was ahead.’
In a week when the Beckham-Peltzes have ensured first dances at weddings dominated the headlines, Mrs Badenoch reveals that Wet Wet Wet’s 1994 hit Love Is All Around was the choice for the couple’s wedding twirl when she married banker Hamish Badenoch 14 years ago.
She says: ‘It’s a Nineties song I really love and which my husband also really loved. So, we picked it for our wedding as our first dance.
‘I think it’s very romantic. It talks about there’s no beginning, there’ll be no end to the love. You know I love you, I always will and that is what I would want to say to my husband, that you know I love you, I always will. He is an amazing man.’
She also reflects on the personal ambitions of Tory figures who have defected to Reform, including Robert Jenrick, saying the party is stronger after their exit.
- Desert Island Discs is on BBC Radio 4 today at 10am and is available via BBC Sounds.