UK Conservatives pick Kemi Badenoch as new leader, first Black woman to head a big British party
Britain’s Conservative Party has elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader as it tries to rebound from a crushing election defeat that ended its 14 years in power
By JILL LAWLESS
Published - Nov 02, 2024, 12:11 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:43 PM EST
LONDON (AP) — Outspoken, right-leaning lawmaker Kemi Badenoch was named leader of Britain's opposition Conservatives on Saturday, as the party tries to rebound from a crushing election defeat that ended its 14 years in power.
The first Black woman to lead a major British political party, Badenoch (pronounced BADE-enock) has pledged to bring the right-of-center Tories “renewal” by pushing for a smaller state and rejecting identity politics.
Badenoch defeated rival candidate Robert Jenrick in an online and postal ballot of party members, securing 57% of the almost 100,000 votes cast, to Jenrick's 43%.
Badenoch, 44, replaces former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who in July led the Conservatives to their worst election result since 1832.
