Kemi Badenoch has been chosen as the new Conservative Party leader, but do you think she is the right choice? Vote now.
Kemi Badenoch has been chosen as the new Conservative Party leader (Image: GETTY)
After four months of campaigning and several rounds of voting, Kemi Badenoch has been chosen as the new Conservative Party leader.
The announcement was made on Saturday morning, with Ms Badenoch taking the position with 53,806 votes (57%) to Robert Jenrick‘s 41,388 (43%).
The 44-year-old dubbed her campaign Renewal 2030, setting her sights on winning the next general election.
Speaking after the result, Ms Badenoch said the Conservatives need to be “honest” and pledged “the time has come to tell the truth”.
She promised to “stand up for Conservative values” and “take the fight to Labour”.
Congratulations came from across the political sphere, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailing her appointment as the “first Black leader of a Westminster party” a “proud moment for our country”.
Ms Badenoch admitted she has a “huge job” ahead of her, saying “this is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring back to the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring in to the Conservative Party”.
She will now take time to build her shadow cabinet, with announcements expected soon.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak will now return to the backbenches alongside Jeremy Hunt, who said this week he was “taking a step back”.
