Kemi Badenoch has won the leadership of the UK Conservative Party, aiming to return it to its core values and regain public support after its significant defeat in July.
Badenoch, 44, secured 57% of the vote in the two-way contest against former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, with 53,806 votes to his 41,388 from 131,680 eligible party members. Voter turnout was 72.8%.
She succeeds former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pledging to steer the party back from what she describes as “governing from the left” to its traditional roots.
As the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party, Badenoch called her election an “enormous honour” but acknowledged the challenge of uniting a fractured party after 14 years in power. “We have to be honest about our mistakes,” she said. “It’s time to get down to business and renew.”
Kemi Badenoch sits next to Robert Jenrick on the day she was announced as the new Conservative leader, in London, UK [Mina Kim/Reuters]
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Kemi Badenoch spent her early years in Lagos. Elected as an MP in 2017, she first ran for Conservative leader in 2022.
Known for her outspoken views on issues like identity politics and the role of officials, Badenoch draws both strong support and criticism.
As the new opposition leader, she will face Labour’s Keir Starmer in weekly Commons debates. With Labour facing challenges despite its election landslide, some Conservatives hope for a comeback in the 2029 election, though moderates worry her stance could alienate centrist voters.
“Our task is clear,” she told party members. “Hold Labour to account and prepare for government.”
Source: News Agencies
