Kemi Badenoch Elected As The First Black UK Conservative Leader

Kemi Badenoch

by Admin

Nov 2, 2024

Kemi Badenoch

History was made when Kemi Badenoch won the election of the United Kingdom Conservative Leadership to become the first black person and woman to be a Tory Leader. 

The 44-year-old lawmaker won against Robert Jenrick, the former Immigration Minister by winning 57 percent of the votes of party members.

Badenoch garnered a total of 53,806 votes while her counterpart Robert Jenrick came a bit close with 41, 388 from a total number of 131,680 votes. The party attendance was recorded at 72.8 percent.

Kemi Badenoch took over the Tory leadership from former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to become the sixth leader of the Tories in nine years. 

In her victory speech, she praised her counterpart Robert Jendrick and also told him that he was welcome to become a senior official in her council, she said “You have a key role in our party for years to come”.

Robert Jendrick in other words took to his social media page on X and urged the other Tory members to work with Kemi Badenoch for the success of the party, he wrote “to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour government”.

He further said, “I thank everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics”.

Badenoch, who became a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament in 2017 after a successful career in banking and IT.

Badenoch, who did not reveal her policies during her campaign however said she would offer jobs to all of the Tories who launched leadership bids in July.

Keir Starmer said the UK prime minister took to X page to congratulate her, he wrote: “The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country”.

He added: “I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.”

While her predecessor Rishi Sunak also posted on his X page to congratulate her, he wrote “I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party.”

Kemi Badenoch is expected to announce members of her shadow cabinet and outline her policies on Wednesday. 

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