Nigerian-British politician Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party, succeeding Rishi Sunak.
The party announced Badenoch’s victory in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, making her the first person of African origin and the first Black woman to lead a major political party in Britain.
The right-leaning Badenoch has gained prominence for her firm stances against identity politics, her conservative views on transgender rights, and her criticism of extensive state spending.
The Conservative Party confirmed her election in a message that read, “@KemiBadenoch has been elected Leader of the Conservative Party.”
Badenoch won the leadership race against Robert Jenrick, securing 53,806 votes to his 41,000 after a prolonged contest within the party.
Following her victory, Badenoch expressed gratitude, calling it “the most enormous honor to be elected” as leader of the party she says has given her much.
She emphasized the need to hold the Labour government accountable and prepare a “clear plan” for the Tories, who have recently suffered a historic electoral defeat.
She criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s lack of a solid agenda, saying he was “discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.”
In her address, Badenoch also acknowledged past missteps, remarking, “The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.”
Badenoch’s leadership brings a rightward shift to the Tories, with her leaning into US-style cultural debates that resonate with the party’s grassroots members.
She faces the considerable challenge of reviving the Conservative Party following their defeat in July, which saw their parliamentary presence shrink from 372 to 121 seats, driven by public dissatisfaction over issues such as the economy, crime, and public standards.
Despite the setback, both Badenoch and her opponent, Jenrick, voiced confidence that the Conservatives can rebuild and contest the next election, due by 2029.
However, Badenoch’s previous roles in the troubled governments of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak could impact her efforts as she aims to lead the Tories to a new era.
