Kemi Badenoch has made a commitment to reclaim voters who have turned away from the Conservative Party after achieving a historic win in the leadership election. At 44, she has made history as the first black woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. Badenoch triumphed over fellow contender Robert Jenrick by a margin of 12,418 votes in a protracted contest aimed at filling the vacancy left by Rishi Sunak, who oversaw the party’s most significant defeat ever during July’s general election.

In her victory address, Badenoch expressed her intention to “renew” the party and urged supporters that it was “time to get down to business.” As the sixth Conservative leader in less than nine years, she faces the challenge of healing divisions within the party while mounting an effective opposition against Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government. The MP for Saffron Walden emphasized the need for the Conservatives to win back voters who have deserted them, stating, “Our party is essential for our country’s success. To be heard, we must be honest.”

Badenoch acknowledged that her party had “made mistakes” and allowed standards to decline during its 14 years in power. Throughout her campaign, she refrained from presenting specific policies and instead focused on returning to core Conservative values. Attention now shifts to her choice of senior team members as she outlines her vision for the party in the coming days. She lauded Jenrick despite their rivalrous campaign and suggested he might take on a prominent role within her administration, saying he would play a significant part in the party’s future.

Badenoch has indicated that she will extend offers to all Conservative candidates who participated in the leadership race, although James Cleverly, who finished third, has declined any role. Reports suggest that she plans to announce her shadow cabinet by midweek, ahead of key parliamentary events including a critical Budget vote and her initial confrontation with Sir Keir at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Jenrick did not comment publicly after his defeat but urged his backers on social media to support Badenoch against what he termed a “disastrous Labour government.” He also expressed gratitude to those who shared his vision for a Conservative Party grounded in common British values. Badenoch’s election garnered congratulatory messages from several predecessors, including Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson, who commended her leadership qualities.

While Labour’s Chair criticized the Conservative campaign for failing to learn from past mistakes, other political leaders recognized the significance of Badenoch’s achievement as a historic moment for diversity within UK politics. The recent leadership contest highlighted pressing issues such as immigration and economic recovery while revealing that voter support for Conservatives had dwindled significantly since their last election performance.