Britain’s opposition Conservative Party elects first Black leader

Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, marking a significant moment as she becomes the first Black woman to head a major British political party. This election comes after a significant defeat in July that ended the Conservatives’ 14 years in power.

Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents and spent much of her childhood in Africa, won the leadership contest against fellow right-wing candidate Robert Jenrick, securing the support of nearly 100,000 party members. She succeeds former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

At 44, the former software engineer presents herself as a disruptor advocating for a low-tax, free-market economy. As the sixth Conservative leader in under nine years, she faces the task of uniting the party and has committed to leading it through a period of renewal.

Badenoch emphasized her priorities, stating, “My first responsibility is to hold Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government to account. Our second is to prepare for government in the coming years.” She expressed the need for a clear set of Conservative pledges that resonate with the British public and a robust plan for their implementation.

Acknowledging the need to regain the trust of voters who have left the party, she stressed the importance of honesty. “We must be truthful about our mistakes and acknowledge that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth,” she said.

Attention will now turn to Badenoch as she selects her leadership team in the days ahead.