British-born Nigerian Kemi Badenoch has been elected leader of the Conservative Party in Britain, replacing former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the party’s disastrous performance in July’s general election.
Badenoch, 44, emerged victorious in the leadership race held in central London, securing 53,806 votes against Robert Jenrick’s 41,388, AFP reports.
Expressing her gratitude, Badenoch described the leadership role as an “enormous honour,” while acknowledging the challenges ahead: “The task that stands before us is tough.”
She stated, “We have to be honest about the fact we made mistakes” and “let standards slip,” and urged, “It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew.”
The July election marked the Conservative Party’s worst defeat since 1832, ending their 14-year rule and reducing their parliamentary seats to 121 out of 650.
Badenoch, previously serving as business secretary, now becomes the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.
Her leadership begins as the Conservatives attempt to rebuild unity and reclaim public trust. She faces the task of challenging Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stances on critical issues, including the economy and migration, aiming to lead the Conservatives back to power by 2029.
She has pledged to draw back voters who migrated to Reform U.K., led by Nigel Farage.
Born to Nigerian parents, Badenoch is known for her straight-talking approach and opposition to “wokeness.”
She advocates for conservative values, promoting a low-tax, free-market economy, and has recently stirred debate by calling maternity pay “excessive” and asserting that “not all cultures are equally valid.”