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Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the leader of the UK Conservative Party, with a promise to overhaul the party’s politics following a disastrous election defeat earlier this year. The former business secretary secured 57 percent of the vote, defeating her opponent, Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, in a decisive victory. The turnout was 72.8 percent among the party’s 131,680 members, as announced by Bob Blackman, chair of the 1922 Committee, during an event in Westminster.
Badenoch, who represents North West Essex, becomes the first Black leader of the Conservative Party and the fourth woman to assume this role. Born in Wimbledon, she was raised in Nigeria as the daughter of a doctor and an academic before moving to the UK as a teenager to pursue her studies. Badenoch has stated that her engineering degree positions her well to address what she describes as the UK’s “broken system.”
Badenoch is often described by her critics as prone to making gaffes, whereas her supporters appreciate her straightforward communication style. She is known for opposing “woke” ideology and identifies as a “net zero sceptic,” advocating for substantial reforms to the British state.
In her acceptance speech, Badenoch addressed party members, emphasizing the importance of holding the Labour government accountable and preparing for future governance. She highlighted her campaign slogan, “the time has come to tell the truth,” acknowledging past mistakes and slipping standards. She called for unity within the party to “reset our politics and thinking” and urged members to get to work and renew their efforts.
Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to lead the party, Badenoch paid tribute to her predecessor, Rishi Sunak. The leadership contest concluded after the Conservatives experienced their worst election defeat on July 4, with the party’s representation plummeting to just 121 MPs from 365 in the previous election.
Richard Fuller, party chair, encouraged members to fully support the new leader and engage with communities to rebuild trust with voters. He emphasized the importance of demonstrating that the Conservatives are aligned with people who contribute to society.
Badenoch is expected to have a discussion with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who congratulated her on the achievement of becoming the first Black leader of a UK party. She succeeded over five other contenders, including Jenrick, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat, Mel Stride, and Dame Priti Patel.
Badenoch is set to announce her front bench team soon, with key roles anticipated for her prominent supporters, including Claire Coutinho, Laura Trott, and Andrew Griffith. An insider from her campaign indicated that all senior appointments would be finalized before her first shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
While expressing appreciation for Jenrick’s “energy and determination,” Badenoch noted their significant similarities in outlook and indicated that he would have a “key role to play” if he chose to accept it. However, some of the party’s most experienced politicians, such as former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and former Home Secretary James Cleverly, have opted to remain on the backbenches rather than serving in the new shadow ministerial team.
Privately, some Conservative MPs express doubts about Badenoch’s longevity as leader given the party’s recent tendency to change leaders quickly. To counter potential leadership challenges, party officials are contemplating rule changes to make it more difficult to initiate a “no confidence” vote, currently requiring 15 percent of the parliamentary group.
Badenoch’s initial significant challenge will be to demonstrate progress in the upcoming local elections in May 2024, a daunting task given the party’s previous electoral boost from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout during the 2021 council elections.
