UK Conservative Party picks Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch as its new leader
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Britain’s Conservative Party on Saturday elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader as it tries to rebound from a crushing election defeat that ended 14 years in power.
Badenoch was crowned the new Conservative leader after the four-month-long race to replace Rishi Sunak who in July led the Conservatives to their worst election result since 1832.
The Conservatives lost more than 200 seats, taking their tally down to 121.
The new leader’s daunting task is to try to restore the party’s reputation after years of division, scandal and economic tumult, hammer Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s policies on key issues including the economy and immigration, and return the Conservatives to power at the next election, due by 2029.
“The task that stands before us is tough but simple,” Badenoch said in a victory speech to a roomful of Conservative lawmakers, staff and journalists in London.
“Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal opposition is to hold this Labour government to account. Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.”
Throughout her campaign, Badenoch pledged to steer the Conservatives back to “first principles” and committed to undertaking a series of policy reviews in the coming months to reshape the party’s platform.
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Badenoch polled 53,806 votes, defeating Jenrick, who garnered 41,388.
Attention now shifts to her selection for the shadow cabinet as she outlines the party’s direction.
Only a third of Conservative MPs supported Badenoch’s leadership bid.
In the lead-up to the final vote, Badenoch had indicated that she would consider offering positions to her leadership rivals, including Jenrick. However, shadow home secretary James Cleverly, who finished third, has already declined a frontbench role.
