Kemi Badenoch elected as first black female leader of UK Conservative Party

Kemi Badenoch has made history as the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, defeating Robert Jenrick in the final leadership vote.

A former Equalities Minister and a prominent figure within the party, Badenoch is the first Black woman to lead a major political party in Britain.

Badenoch takes the reins from Rishi Sunak, who resigned following the Conservatives’ worst election defeat in July.

Her campaign focused on restoring the party to “first principles” and conducting policy reviews to reshape the Conservative platform.

In her victory speech, she called on party members to prioritize accountability and prepare for future governance, underscoring her commitment to unify a divided party.

Badenoch secured 53,806 votes against Jenrick’s 41,388, but only one-third of Conservative MPs backed her leadership bid, highlighting the challenges ahead.

As attention shifts to her shadow cabinet selections, Badenoch has hinted at including some of her former rivals in leadership roles, although notable figures like James Cleverly have declined positions.

Her tenure begins with the immediate challenge of holding the Labour government accountable while rallying a fractured party toward a cohesive vision for the future.