Kemi Badenoch promises change after historic Tory leadership win

Kemi Badenoch has vowed to regain the support of voters who have left the Conservative Party following her landmark win in the leadership election.

At 44 years old, she makes history as the first African American woman to head a significant political party in the United Kingdom.

She triumphed over fellow conservative Robert Jenrick, 42, by securing 12,418 more votes in a lengthy competition to take over from Rishi Sunak, who had guided the party to its largest loss ever in the general election held in July.

In her speech after winning, Badenoch vowed to revitalize the party and declared to the enthusiastic crowd that it was "time to get to work."

Badenoch, now the sixth leader of the Conservative Party in under nine years, has the challenging job of bringing together a divided party and leading the charge against Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.

The Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden stated that the Conservatives must work to win back the voters who have turned away from them. He emphasized that the party plays a vital role in the nation's prosperity.

"However, in order to truly be listened to, we must be genuine."

She noted that the party has to acknowledge it "erred" and "compromised its standards" during its 14 years in power.

Badenoch decided not to outline specific policies during her campaign; instead, she concentrated on bringing the Conservatives back to their fundamental values.

Everyone is now focused on whom she will select for her key team as she outlines the party's direction in the days ahead.

She commended Jenrick even after what was at times a tough campaign, suggesting that he might receive a prominent position in the future. She told him, "You will play an important part in our party for many years ahead."

Badenoch, who entered Parliament in 2017 following a background in banking and information technology, has expressed her intention to provide positions to all the Conservative members who ran for leadership in July.

However, James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary who finished in third place in the competition, has eliminated himself from consideration.

According to the BBC, Badenoch intends to announce her shadow cabinet by Wednesday, just before the important Budget vote and her first confrontation with Sir Keir during Prime Minister's Questions.

Jenrick chose not to address reporters following the announcement of the results. However, on social media, he encouraged his supporters to come together and rally behind Kemi, urging them to challenge the "terrible Labour government."

He expressed his gratitude to "all those who backed my idea of a Conservative Party that is based on shared values within British politics."

Badenoch received 53,806 votes, while Jenrick secured 41,388, resulting in one of the most competitive Conservative leadership contests in recent memory.

Bob Blackman, the chair of the Conservative 1922 Committee who managed the election, disclosed that the party's membership has dropped to 132,000. This is the smallest number on record and represents a loss of 40,000 members since the last member vote in 2022.

Badenoch received well wishes from many of her former colleagues, including Sunak, who took to social media to express, "I am confident she will be an outstanding leader of our remarkable party."

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Badenoch for her "bravery and straightforwardness," noting that she adds an essential spark and energy to the Conservative Party.

In a post on social media, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that "having the first Black leader of a party in Westminster marks a significant moment for our nation."

He expressed, "I’m eager to collaborate with you and your team for the benefit of the British citizens."

However, Ellie Reeves, the chair of the Labour Party, argued that the Conservative leadership campaign demonstrated that the party had "not gained any insights since the British public decisively turned them down in July."

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey praised Badenoch, stating that "the election of the first Black leader of a significant political party in the UK is a historic milestone for the nation."

However, Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, referred to Badenoch as just another Tory politician who talks one way but acts differently.

In a recent statement, he remarked, "Kemi Badenoch played a prominent role in a government that let down the UK."

Throughout the 14-week campaign, the main focus of discussions was on immigration issues, economic matters, and the strategies the Conservatives can use to regain voters' confidence.

The party saw its representation shrink to an all-time low of 121 seats in the House of Commons during the general election, securing less than 24% of the votes cast.

It lost support from voters across the board to Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK. Many Conservative voters also opted not to participate in the elections on July 4th.

During the summer, Priti Patel, Mel Stride, and Tom Tugendhat joined forces with Jenrick, Badenoch, and Cleverly to campaign together after they all announced their candidacies at the end of July.

Dame Priti and Stride were the initial two candidates to be voted out in September in a poll among Conservative MPs. By the time the party convened in Birmingham for its fall conference at the end of the month, only four candidates remained.

Cleverly initially seemed to be ahead following the conference, leading in the third round of voting among MPs. However, in the final tally, his support dropped to 37 votes, placing him behind Badenoch, who received 42 votes, and Jenrick, who garnered 41.

The last two candidates faced a vote from the party members, and the results were surprisingly tight, especially since Badenoch had been considered a frontrunner among the party's base for some time.