Kemi Badenoch, 44, has been elected as the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, succeeding Rishi Sunak and becoming the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party. Her leadership win, with 53,806 votes over former immigration minister Robert Jenrick’s 41,388, signals a rightward shift in a bid to reconnect with the party’s base and counter its declining support after a July defeat that saw the Conservatives lose their parliamentary majority.
Badenoch’s leadership message centers on returning the party to its foundational conservative values, voicing a need to counter “governing from the left.” She acknowledges the challenges of uniting a divided party, where some centrist members are wary of her rightward stance, which they fear could alienate moderate voters. However, her assertive positions on identity politics, state influence reduction, and a robust opposition against the Labour government have resonated with a faction that believes a clear conservative identity is essential for the party’s revival.
While Reflecting on her victory, Kemi Badenoch stated, “Our primary task is to hold this Labour government accountable. Equally, we must prepare ourselves to lead again in the years to come.”
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.
