Kemi Badenoch Wins Conservative Leadership with 56.5% Vote, Defeats Robert Jenrick

Nov 2, 2024, 11:14 AM

Kemi Badenoch, the MP for North West Essex, has been elected as the new leader of the UK's Conservative Party, succeeding Rishi Sunak and becoming the first black woman to lead the party. Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick in the leadership contest, securing 53,806 votes (56.5%) to Jenrick's 41,318 votes (43.5%), with a turnout of 72.8%. This election marks the closest members' vote ever in a Conservative leadership contest and makes Badenoch the fifth party leader in five years. The leadership race lasted four months following the party's loss in the July general election to Labour. Prominent Conservative figures, including former Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and David Cameron, have congratulated Badenoch on her victory. Badenoch now faces the challenge of leading the party in opposition and rebuilding after the election defeat.