UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for an informal, one-hour meeting at a café near the Pantheon in Rome.

 

Badenoch meets Meloni

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for an informal, one-hour meeting at a café near the Pantheon in Rome.

The meeting has drawn significant media attention because both leaders are right-wing politicians currently navigating intense political pressure from populist forces even further to their right—specifically Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in Britain and Roberto Vannacci in Italy.

Key Takeaways from the Meeting

• The "Be Your Own Woman" Advice: Meloni reportedly urged Badenoch to resist internal party pressure to make an electoral pact or deal with Reform UK. Meloni told her to "be yourself," "be your own woman," and "stand your ground".
• Economic Praise: Badenoch highly praised Meloni’s economic record on social media, noting that markets and investors currently have more confidence in Meloni's Italy than in Britain's Labour government. She noted that Italy's borrowing costs have dropped below Britain's.
• Wealth Flight and Human Rights: The two leaders discussed strategies to prevent high-net-worth individuals from fleeing their respective countries. They also debated the European Convention on Human Rights; Meloni advocated for reforming it, while Badenoch reaffirmed her stance to withdraw the UK completely if she wins the next general election.
• Foreign Policy & Ukraine: Meloni reiterated her staunch support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, acknowledging that she faces criticism from both the political left and right in Italy for her stance.
• Female Leadership: Meloni pointed out that she is set to lead the longest-serving government in the modern history of the Italian Republic despite initially being written off. They shared a moment discussing how Britain is historically more accustomed to female leadership—such as Margaret Thatcher, a figure both leaders admire.

The political relationship between the two figures dates back to 2023 when Badenoch served as Britain’s Business and Trade Secretary.