Four months after its major electoral defeat and the loss of 240 seats in Parliament, the British Conservative Party has elected its new leader. Former trade minister Kemi Badenoch succeeds Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.
2 mins
With our regional correspondent, Thomas Harms
Kemi Badenoch was very applauded by the leaders of the Conservative Party gathered in London this Saturday, November 2. The Tories are the first party to have a person of African origin at the head of a party United Kingdom. She was elected with nearly 54,000 votes against 41 000 for Robert Jenrick. She becomes the first black woman to lead one of the UK’s main political parties.
The election was called after the announcement of the resignation of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in the wake of the historic electoral defeat of the Conservatives in the last legislative elections on July 4.
“ The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to rethink our politics and thinking, and to give our party and our country the fresh start they deserve “, declared Kemi Badenoch just after the announcement of his victory.
On stage, she recalls wanting to take stock of the party, return to the values at the heart of the Tories and therefore concede the Conservatives’ errors of direction. This is essential before we can win elections, she insisted.
Controversies
Kemi Badenoch is known for her outspokenness and controversies. The latest: maternity leave which went too far according to her. When she was Minister for Women and Equalities, she supported restricting the rights of trans people and banning them from women’s only places.
She, who worships another woman who led the party, Margaret Thatcher, also campaigned without announcing any political measures.
Kemi Badenoch was born 44 years ago in London and lived in Nigeria and to UNITED STATES before returning to study and Great Britain at the age of 16. She considers that in Nigeria fear is everywhere. This is also what forged its conservative orientation and its priorities: security, democracy and freedom above all else.
This former Minister of Commerce of Rishi Sunak is presented by her campaign team as the future British Prime Minister in 2030.