In a historic milestone, Kemi Badenoch has been elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, making her the first Black woman to head a major political party in the country.
Badenoch, 44, now joins the ranks of former Conservative female leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Liz Truss.
“It is the most enormous honor to be elected to this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much,” Badenoch said to party members after her victory. “I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.”
Badenoch’s background is notable; although born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK after political upheaval in Nigeria impacted her family’s stability.
Upon entering Parliament in 2017, Badenoch expressed pride in her immigrant roots but has since advocated for stricter immigration policies, recently stating that “numbers matter, but culture matters more.”
Known for her fierce, direct debating style and opposition to “nasty identity politics,” Badenoch presents a contrast to former leader Rishi Sunak.
Despite her clear political stance, she refrained from outlining new policy goals during the leadership selection process, likely due to Labour’s majority in Parliament, which limits the Conservatives’ capacity for immediate legislative change.
The election of Badenoch marks a historic shift for the Conservatives, highlighting the party’s commitment to diverse leadership while reinforcing traditional Conservative values.
