Kemi Badenoch WINS Tory leadership race and says ‘it’s time to tell the truth’ and ‘get down to business’
KEMI Badenoch has won the Tory leadership race after knocking out her rival Robert Jenrick in a tight race.
The outspoken MP was announced as the new Conservative Party leader this morning with 53,806 votes.
Kemi, 44, beat Robert Jenrick who received 41,388 votes with a 72.8 per cent turnout.
The former Business Secretary replaces Rishi Sunak four months after the Tories’ crushing defeat at the General Election.
Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “Isn’t it great we’ve got another female leader and isn’t it great we’re the first party to have a black leader?
“Another glass ceiling shattered.”
Next she will have to formally appoint a new Shadow Cabinet from a rump of just 121 Conservative MPs.
And as leader of the opposition, one of Kemi’s first jobs will be taking on Sir Keir Starmer at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
Speaking after the result, Kemi said: “Our party is critical to the success of our country, 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.
“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.”
She told her party: “The task that stands before us is tough but simple.
“Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account. Our second is no less important.
“It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government.
“To ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them.
“A clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.
“The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.
“That huge job begins today.”
Kemi also thanked her family and former prime minister Mr Sunak.
In her speech, she said: “There are so many people to thank. Firstly my family – especially my husband Hamish.
“Hamish, I couldn’t have done this without you. I also want to thank Rishi – no one could’ve worked harder in such difficult times.
“Thank you for everything you did. I’d also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick. Rob, we’ve all been impressed.
“We don’t actually disagree on much. You have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.”
Tory MPs liken her to Margaret Thatcher and say she will be a formidable opponent for the lawyerly Prime Minister.
The task that stands before us is tough but simple.
Kemi Badenoch
The anti-woke crusader has been critical of transgender rights – particularly self-identification and gender neutral toilets.
Her leadership campaign focused on restoring the party’s Conservative values.
Kemi said her party had “talked right but governed left” and acted “like Labour” while in power.
The North West Essex MP was backed by Tory grandees Sir David Davis and Sir Iain Duncan Smith as well as rising stars Claire Coutinho and Laura Trott.
During the campaign she sparked outrage by branding maternity pay “excessive” and urging mothers to show “more personal responsibility”.
KEMI BADENOCH IS TORY LEADER... WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
By Sophia Sleigh, Political Correspondent
Job number one on Ms Badenoch’s list will be appointing her shadow cabinet.
Will she extend an olive branch to rival Robert Jenrick by offering him a senior role?
She certainly hinted at it in her acceptance speech when she told how Mr Jenrick had a “key role” to play.
And with just 121 Conservative MPs there will likely be some famous faces on the opposition front benches.
Ms Badenoch may also want to appoint younger rising stars to junior positions to give them a taste of taking on Labour.
Her second big job will be preparing for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
All eyes will be on the new leader who will be expected to set the tone for Tory fightback.
Thirdly, Ms Badnoch will try to unite her party after years of vicious infighting.
And finally, policies. Ms Badenoch’s team will have to start drafting up plans to win back voters lost to Labour and reform.
Mr Sunak congratulated Kemi on becoming Conservative leader, urging the party to unite behind her.
He said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative Party leader.
“I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party. She will renew our party, stand up for Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour.
“Let’s unite behind her.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir said in a post on X: “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.”
Six contenders made the initial shortlist after gaining the support of at least 10 MPs.
Dame Priti Patel was the first candidate knocked out in the ballot of MPs.
Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly followed suit.
It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.
Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick made it to the final ballot of paid-up Tory members.
Kemi was born in Wimbledon in 1980 to Nigerian parents. Her father was a GP and her mother was a physiology professor.
Ms Badenoch spent much of her early childhood abroad before returning to the UK aged 16 to obtain her A Levels.
She went on to study computer engineering at the University of Sussex, took up roles as a software engineer as well as a director at Coutts private bank and at The Spectator magazine.
Kemi served on the London Assembly before she was handed the safe seat of Saffron Walden in Essex in 2017.
KEMI'S SPEECH IN FULL
KEMI Badenoch has won the race to become the new leader of the Conservative Party.
Here is her first speech as party leader, delivered immediately after the result on Saturday:
“I want to start by thanking Richard Fuller for his work as our party chairman since July, and also Bob Blackman as returning officer for this contest. You and your teams have done us all a great service.
“I also want to pay tribute to everyone in the Conservative Party who has been involved in this very long campaign. It has been an experience none of us candidates will ever forget. Thank you for hosting us in your communities, in your village halls, in your pubs and in your homes.
“It is the most enormous honour to be elected in this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much. I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.
“There are so many people to thank; firstly, my family, especially my husband Hamish – I couldn’t have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.
“I also want to thank Rishi. No-one could have worked harder in such difficult times. Rishi, thank you for everything you did, we all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.
“I’d also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick, who has fought a great campaign.
“Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don’t actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.
“I would also like to thank all the other candidates, Priti, Mel, Tom and James, for your kind words and your many insights.
“We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.
“The task that stands before us is tough but simple.
“Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account.
“Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.
“The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.
“That huge job begins today.
“It will seek to involve all of our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councillors and party members.
“But this is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.
“It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be over the next five, 10 and 20 years.
“Our party is critical to the success of our country, 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. 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.”
She took on a number of junior government roles before throwing her hat in the ring to replace Boris Johnson in 2022.
Ms Badenoch came fourth with the backing of 59 MPs.
Winner Liz Truss made her Trade Secretary before Mr Sunak handed her Business as well as Women and Equalities.
Ms Badenoch is married to banker and party activist Hamish Badenoch and they have three children.