Kemi Badenoch Makes History as First African Leader of Britain’s Conservative Party

By Iyojo Ameh

Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the first person of African descent to lead Britain’s Conservative Party. Badenoch, 44, was declared the winner on Saturday after a four-month leadership contest to replace outgoing leader Rishi Sunak.

Her election marks a significant milestone for the Tories, which announced her win in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “ANNOUNCED: @KemiBadenoch has been elected Leader of the Conservative Party.”

Badenoch triumphed over her closest contender, Robert Jenrick, securing a substantial share of support from Members of Parliament.

The party recorded a voter turnout of 72%, as reported by Conservative MP Bob Blackman. The win cements Badenoch’s position at the helm of the opposition, with her tenure expected to shape the party’s direction amidst its rebuilding phase.

While Badenoch’s election has generated excitement among her supporters, the broader public remains divided. A recent YouGov poll revealed that while many have yet to form a strong opinion about her, 40% of those surveyed expressed a negative view.

Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, however, has praised Badenoch’s leadership qualities, describing her as an “excellent person to work with” based on their time together in government. “She understands that the party’s values need to be reset and that winning trust is essential for any electoral success,” Buckland told The National News in an interview, underscoring her commitment to the Conservative values he believes resonate with the public.

Buckland acknowledged the challenges Badenoch will face, calling her new role as opposition leader an “unenviable task” but one she is well-prepared for. He added, “She has more MP support than anyone else in the leadership race, so now the priority should be uniting the party in opposing the government, not opposing each other.”

The former justice secretary also voiced hope for a “new phase in politics,” with Badenoch at the forefront to help the Tories regroup and strengthen. He advised that Badenoch remain open to collaborating with think tanks and policy experts to bring fresh, innovative ideas to the Conservative platform.

“It’s going to be very hard and unglamorous,” Buckland said, “but I believe Kemi has the strength of spirit to do it.”