Conservative party picks new leader: Historic win changes British politics forever
In a tight race **Kemi Badenoch** becomes first black woman to lead major UK political party. Her win marks significant shift for conservatives as they prepare to challenge Labour government
Kemi Badenoch won conservative party leadership with 53‚806 votes beating Robert Jenrickʼs 41‚388 votes in a super-close race (making it the tightest victory in modern party history)
Speaking at party HQ she made it clear: “Its time to start afresh and give everyone a stake in the party“. Her win means shell be the first black woman to lead a major UK political party; also becoming the second woman to be Opposition Leader after Margaret Thatcher
Born in south-west London but raised in Lagos Nigeria Badenoch had quite a non-standard path to leadership. She lived without power did homework by candlelight and carried water in rusty buckets from far away. At 16 she came back to Britain worked at McDonalds while studying for A-levels
Labour are going to fail because they are repeating many of our mistakes and are doubling down on this broken system
The new leader plans to move away from old policies including:
- Net zero targets
- Smoking ban laws
- Renters Rights Bill changes
Sir Keir Starmer the Prime Minister said this was “a proud moment for our country“ while Nigel Farage Reform UK leader wrote that her victory shows an “unchanged unreformed“ party
Badenoch will name her shadow-cabinet by Nov 5th and face her first PMQs this wednesday. The leadership vote had lowest-ever turnout - just 72.8% of members voted which hasnt happened since modern voting started in 98
Former PM Boris Johnson praised her saying sheʼd bring “zing and zap“ to the party while Rishi Sunak called her “a superb leader“. The 1922 Committee changed no-confidence vote rules due to smaller MP numbers: now needs 33.3% plus one to trigger a vote
