Nigeria’s Kemi Badenoch emerges leader of UK Conservative Party

Kemi Badenoch today won the election to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party. She is the first person of African heritage to lead the Tories.

The Conservative Party announced her win in a post on X today.

“ANNOUNCED: @KemiBadenoch has been elected Leader of the Conservative Party,” the party tweeted.

Badenoch, 44, beat Robert Jenrick after a four-month contest after Sunak’s resignation.

The vote saw a turnout of 72% according to Conservative MP Bob Blackman.

Most people said they had not formed an opinion of Ms Badenoch yet, according to a YouGov poll. But 40 per cent of those questioned said they disliked her.

Former justice secretary Robert Buckland during an interview with the National News, said that as a leader Ms Badenoch “will be an excellent person to work with”, having seen her strong character and abilities first-hand when they worked in government together.

“She knows that the party’s values need to be reset and that we’ve got to win trust as without trust, we don’t get anywhere in terms of electoral success,” he added. “I think she better understands that more than most and that’s why she deserved to win.”

The role as opposition leader was an “unenviable task” and Ms Badenoch “will not be under any doubt about the scale of work ahead to win back power”, he added.

“She is the person who had more MP support than any other in the leadership race so people need to knuckle down and get on with the job of opposing the government, not opposing each other.”

He added that he hoped a “new phase in politics” would see Ms Badenoch unite the party and “the Tories regrouping”.

He also suggested that she listen to think tanks and policy units who have the expertise to provide her with new and innovative policies.

“It’s going to be very hard and unglamorous, but I believe Kemi has the strength of spirit to do it,” he told the National News during an interview.

Kemi Badenoch: 5 things to know about new leader of UK Conservative Party

Kemi Badenoch today won the vote to become the UK Conservatives’ new leader, replacing Rishi Sunak who quit after the party’s disastrous showing in July’s general election.

Here our correspondent highlights five (5) things to know about the new Conservative Party leader:

Political Career: Kemi Badenoch is a prominent British politician who has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden since 2017. She has held various government positions, including Minister for Equalities and Secretary of State for International Trade.

Background: Badenoch was born in Wimbledon, London, to Nigerian parents. Her childhood was spent in part of the United States of America, and in Lagos, Nigeria. She returned to the United Kingdom at the age of 16. She was educated at the University of Sussex and has a background in technology and finance.

Conservative Party Member: As a member of the Conservative Party, Badenoch is known for her strong stance on issues like free speech, education reform, and economic development. She has gained recognition for her views on promoting diversity of thought within the party.

Leadership Aspirations: Badenoch ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2022, showcasing her ambition and vision for the party’s future. Although she did not win, her candidacy raised her profile significantly.

Controversial Stances: Badenoch has been a vocal critic of certain aspects of political correctness and identity politics, which has drawn both support and criticism. She advocates for policies that she believes promote equality without undermining individual merit.

Her victory means she becomes the official face of the opposition and face off against Labour’s Keir Starmer in the House of Commons every Wednesday for the traditional Prime Minister’s Questions.