- The North West Essex MP has won the popular vote among the Conservative Party members – beating Robert Jenrick to be the next leader of the opposition. Mr Jenrick has called for the party to unite behind Ms Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch has won the race to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. The 44-year-old North West Essex MP has been declared the winner of the months-long contest, beating Robert Jenrick.
She is one of three children born to Nigerian Yoruba parents. Her father, Femi Adegoke, was a GP and her mother, Feyi Adegoke, was a professor of physiology. She has a brother and a sister. Badenoch spent her childhood living in Lagos, Nigeria, and in the United States, where her mother lectured.
Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to Mr Jenrick’s 41,388.
Who will make up her shadow cabinet is not clear, but she has suggested that all those who ran to be leader against her should be involved.
However, James Cleverly revealed the day before the results that he would be returning to the backbenches.
Badenoch crowned Tory leader
Speaking after her win, Ms Badenoch thanked the other candidates, saying the party had come through the campaign “more united”.
The new leader went on to say the party’s first duty as opposition was to hold Labour to account – and also to prepare for government by the time of the next election.
She then went on to criticise previous Conservative administrations.
“Our party is critical to the success of our country,” Ms Badenoch said.
“But to be heard, we have to be honest, honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.
“The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve.
“It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.”
Badenoch: ‘We let standards slip’
In total, about 132,000 members of the Conservative Party were eligible to vote in the leadership election – a noticeable fall from the 172,000 in the contest in 2022 which Liz Truss won.
The turnout was also down – 72.8% in 2024 vs 82.2% in 2022 – with about 40,000 members not voting.
Responding to his loss, Robert Jenrick said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch.
“Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics.
“It’s now time for the Conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour government.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch, on becoming the Conservative Party’s new leader.
“The first black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.
“I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.”
Ellie Reeves, who is chair of the Labour Party, delivered a more political attack: “It’s been a summer of yet more Conservative chaos and division.
“They could have spent the past four months listening to the public, taking responsibility for the mess they made and changing their party.
“Instead, Kemi Badenoch’s election as leader shows they’re incapable of change.
Kemi Badenoch and her husband Hamish after the win was announced. Pic: PA
“Meanwhile, the Labour Government is getting on with fixing the foundations of our economy and cleaning up the mess the Tories left behind.”
Ms Badenoch served as shadow business and trade secretary since the Conservative Party lost the general election in July and Rishi Sunak said he would stand down as leader, triggering the campaign.
Her campaign was called Renewal 2030 and targeted the next election for the Tories to return to power.
Ms Badenoch was criticised at times for her outspoken approach, with opponents jumping on comments she made about subjects such as maternity pay, gender equality and net zero.
But she has long been popular among the party membership, and previously ran to be leader in 2022.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey congratulated Ms Badenoch as well for her election – before adding that the Tories are still “too divided, out-of-touch and unable to accept Conservative failures over the past years”.
Richard Tice, the Reform Party MP, did not congratulate her and instead attacked Ms Badenoch for her record – saying “she has failed the British public before and she will fail them again as leader of the Conservative Party”.
With additional reports from Sky News