While Adedayo admits that the Conservative Party is not doing enough to appeal to black voters, she rejects accusations that this is because of any inherent racism within the party. "There are racists in every party," she says. " I know a lot of black Conservatives that aren't racists – and the Labour Party has been called anti-semitic but not all of its members are."

"There might be policies that aren't thought through enough", she says, "but I wouldn't describe them as racist. Some policies are not as beneficial for black members but I wouldn't say it's racist." She also dismisses the suggestion that this is a recent problem for the Tories, saying that, traditionally, BAME voters “have always voted Labour – so I wouldn't describe it as a shift.”

Adedayo says the Conservatives are working hard to change their perception among black voters. "The party is very well aware of the issues that we're facing at the moment," she says. "We've taken several steps backwards. Under David Cameron we'd taken steps to reach out to different communities."

She thinks Brexit could be responsible for the party veering off course in terms of BAME engagement. "The party has been focussed on Brexit," she says. "We haven't been focussing on the wider appeal. We haven't been thinking about policies at home.

"A lot of black Africans don't care about Brexit, it isn't an issue, but domestic policies that are affecting them are what they want the government to focus on, and the government's attention has been shifted rightly or wrongly to Brexit."

However, she also acknowledges that Theresa May's brand of Conservatism differs from David Cameron's. "Whether or not it's intentional, Theresa May was the Home Secretary [who introduced 'hostile environment policies'], and immigration is a big thing to a lot of black African voters, and she was the one that was in charge when there were policies that might be described as racist, so she's never been that person that looks like a modern person.

"During the 2015 election campaign David Cameron went to a massive black church in London, which I don't recall any politician, especially on that level, has ever [done], and that in itself was a sign that we're part of that campaign, that we're listening.

"That's not something that the current party is doing, but I know they're trying to think about ways that the Conservative Party [can appeal to black voters]." Adedayo said she welcomed the party involving BAME MPs like James Cleverly in its attempts to woo black voters.

However, she adds: "I think it is noticeable that the party has changed under Theresa May."