Breaking: Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new Conservative Party leader, succeeding Rishi Sunak after defeating Robert Jenrick in the leadership contest.
- Total eligible electors: 131,680
- Turnout: 72.8%
Results:
- Kemi Badenoch: 53,806 votes (56.5%)
- Robert Jenrick: 41,388 votes (43.5%)
Bob Blackman said Kemi Badenoch becoming the first black party leader is “another glass ceiling shattered”.
Badenoch expressed gratitude to Sunak and extended her best wishes.
“I’d like to begin by thanking Richard Fuller for his dedication as our party chairman since July,” she said. “I also want to acknowledge everyone in the Conservative Party who played a role in this long campaign.
“This experience is something none of us candidates will ever forget. Thank you for welcoming us into your communities, village halls, pubs, and homes.
“It is an immense honor to be elected to this role and to lead the party I deeply love, the party that has given me so much. I hope to repay that trust and support.
“There are many people to thank, starting with my family, especially my husband, Hamish. Hamish, I couldn’t have done this without you—thank you for standing by me at every stage. I also want to thank Rishi. No one could have worked harder in such challenging times. Rishi, thank you for everything. We all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.”
Kemi Badenoch emphasized that it’s “time to get down to business” and “renew” both the Conservative Party and Britain during her acceptance speech.
“The task ahead of us is challenging yet clear. Our primary duty as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account. Equally important is our responsibility to prepare over the next few years for governance, ensuring that by the time of the election, we have not only a compelling set of Conservative pledges that resonate with the British public but also a clear plan for delivering them.
“We need a clear strategy to transform this country by changing how its government operates. The Prime Minister is now learning the hard way what happens without such a plan. Our immense task starts today.
“This effort will include all of our colleagues across Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd, our allies in Northern Ireland, along with councillors and party members. But this mission goes beyond the Conservative Party. It’s about reconnecting with those we want to bring back to our party and reaching out to new supporters.
“It’s about shaping the Conservative Party for the next five, ten, and twenty years. Our party is crucial to the success of this country, but to make our voice heard, we must be honest—honest about our mistakes, honest about where we allowed standards to decline. Now is the time to speak the truth, to stand firmly by our values, to plan for the future, to reset our politics and our vision, and to offer our party and our country the fresh start they deserve. It’s time to get to work; it’s time to renew. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.”
Just under three in four party members voted
This Conservative leadership election saw the lowest turnout among Tory members since the introduction of the modern voting system, with just under three in four members casting their votes. According to data expert Ollie Corfe, the turnout of 72.8 percent marks the lowest in any contested Conservative leadership election since the system was reformed in 1998.
In comparison, the last leadership contest between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in the summer of 2022 had a turnout of 82.2 percent. Additionally, this election recorded the lowest vote share for a Conservative leadership winner, with Badenoch securing 56.6 percent—slightly lower than Liz Truss’s 57.4 percent—making it the closest race on record.
