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Kemi Badenoch has won the Conservative Party leadership election, becoming the first individual of African heritage to lead the party in Britain.
Her victory was announced on Saturday in a post on social media platform X.
“ANNOUNCED: @KemiBadenoch has been elected Leader of the Conservative Party,” the party tweeted.
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Badenoch, 44, secured her position after defeating Robert Jenrick in a contest that lasted four months following Rishi Sunak’s resignation.
According to Conservative MP Bob Blackman, voter turnout for the election was 72%.
A YouGov poll indicated that many voters had yet to form an opinion about Badenoch, although 40% expressed disapproval of her candidacy.
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland praised Badenoch, stating she would be “an excellent person to work with” based on his firsthand experience of her strong character and capabilities in government.
He emphasized the need for the party to reset its values and regain public trust, asserting that Badenoch understands this imperative better than most.
Buckland acknowledged the challenges ahead for Badenoch as she takes on the role of opposition leader, emphasizing the necessity of uniting the party and focusing on opposing the government rather than internal divisions.
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He urged her to engage with think tanks and policy experts to develop innovative solutions.
“It’s going to be very hard and unglamorous, but I believe Kemi has the strength of spirit to do it,” he stated during an interview with National News.