Kemi Badenoch becomes the first black woman to lead the UK Conservatives

Badenoch, 44, took over from former prime minister Rishi Sunak and vowed to lead the party through a period of renewal following its resounding defeat in July’s UK election, saying it had veered towards the political center by “ruling from the left”.

Reuters

November 03, 2024, 13:35

Last modified: November 03, 2024, 13:38

Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, London, November 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mina Kim

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Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, London, November 2, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mina Kim

Kemi Badenoch became the new Conservative leader and the first black woman to lead a major British political party on Saturday after winning the leadership contest, vowing to return the party to its founding principles.

Badenoch, 44, took over from former prime minister Rishi Sunak and vowed to lead the party through a period of renewal following its resounding defeat in July’s UK election, saying it had veered towards the political center by “ruling from the left”.

Sitting on the right flank of the Conservative Party, Badenoch is likely to support a policy of shrinking the state and challenge what she says is institutional left-wing thinking, saying it is time to defend the principles of free speech, free enterprise and free markets.

Badenoch becomes the fifth Conservative leader since mid-2016 after winning 57% of party members’ votes in the final stage of a months-long contest that saw a field of six candidates whittled down to two. She beat former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who won 43% of the vote.

Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed her victory, saying “the first black leader of the Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.”

Badenoch herself has publicly stated that she prefers not to dwell on her race.

Asked at the Conservative Party conference earlier this year what it would be like to become the party’s first black female leader, she said: “I’m one of those people who want the color of our skin to be no more significant than the color of our hair or hair. the color of our eyes.”

For some black voters in London, a city that tends to favor the Labor Party and has a Labor mayor, Badenoch’s support will depend on what she does now as Conservative leader.

“They (the Conservative Party) are not more accessible because they now have a black person,” said student Imani Samuels. “It will just depend on what she does.”

Asked about Badenoch’s comment about the color of her skin, Samuels replied: “She should be proud of it and she should come forward with her blackness because to be in that position and to be a black woman should be something she should be proud to say.” “

Vaughn Gething became the first black leader of the Welsh Labor Party earlier this year but resigned after just four months as Wales’ first minister after a wave of ministerial resignations in protest at his leadership.

Sunak, who is of Indian descent, became Britain’s first non-white prime minister in October 2022 after winning the Conservative leadership race that year.

“TELL THE TRUTH”

Badenoch promised on Saturday to address problems in the party.

“It’s time to tell the truth,” she told the audience during the final vote count in the leadership election, promising to answer key questions about why the Conservatives lost so badly in the July election.

“It’s time to get busy, it’s time to renew.”

With her outspoken views on everything from what she calls identity politics to the value of officials, Badenoch attracts both strong admirers and detractors. It is sure to shake up the Conservatives, who saw their 650-seat contingent of lawmakers in parliament fall to 121 in July from 365 seats in 2019.

With the Labor government off to a rocky start, some Conservatives are increasingly optimistic they will be able to regain power at the next election, due in 2029.

But some centrist Conservatives fear Badenoch could alienate not only the more moderate wing of the party, but also some voters beaten by the centrist Liberal Democrats in the last election.

The former trade minister’s time in government was often marked by controversies with the media, celebrities and her own officials. But her no-nonsense approach also won over many supporters, including Conservative members who preferred her to Jenrick.

“The task before us is difficult but simple. Our first duty as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is to hold this Labor Government to account,” she told party members.

“Our second equally important task is to prepare over the next few years for government.”