Kemi Badenoch has been announced as the new Conservative Party leader, defeating Robert Jenrick by 56.6% to 43.4% in a ballot of party members. It was a widely expected result as she had led by a considerable margin in all polls, though the final result was closer than many surveys suggested. Badenoch now has the difficult job of reviving the Tory party and winning back the trust of millions of voters who abandoned the party over its record in Government, especially over immigration but also over taxation and public spending, fuelled in large part by its catastrophic response to Covid. Kemi won 53,806 votes to Jenrick’s 41,318. The number of legal ballots cast was 95,124 out of an electorate of 131,680 (there were 739 invalid ballots cast). The turnout was 72.8%. (Including invalid ballots the breakdown was 56.1% to 43.1% with 0.8% invalid.)
Some numbers from the Telegraph:
The total turnout of 72.8% is the lowest since the system was changed in 1998.
The turnout last time around in the contest between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in summer 2022 was 82.2%.
At 56.6%, this is also the lowest vote share for a Tory leadership winner (Ms. Truss received 57.4%) and therefore the tightest race on record. …
The number of eligible electors this time round was 131,680. This is 23.6% lower than the 172,437 back in the summer 2022 contest.
Badenoch paid tribute to her rival, saying she and Jenrick “don’t actually disagree on very much” and that he has a “key part to play” for years to come.
I’d also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick who has fought a great campaign. Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don’t actually disagree on very much and I have no doubt that you have a key part to play in our party for many years to come. Thank you.
Addressing the task before her now, the new leader said:
The task that stands before us is tough but simple. Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account. Our second is no less important, it is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government, to ensure that by the time of the election we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them.
A clear plan to change this country by changing the way that this government works. The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan. That huge job begins today.
It will seek to involve all of our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Sennedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councillors and party members. But this is not just about the Conservative Party. It is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party. It is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.
It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be in the next five, 10 and 20 years. Our party is critical to the success of our country but to be heard we have to be honest. Honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve. It is down to get down to business, it is time to renew. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
Earlier, the Telegraph set the scene:
After the historic Tory wipeout in July, six MPs from all parts of the party threw their hats into the ring to sell their vision for the future of the party.
Among the issues that have dominated the debate include the party’s relationship with the insurgent Reform U.K. and whether the U.K. should leave the European Convention of Human Rights.
The Conservative Party Conference, designed to be a beauty parade for remaining hopefuls Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick shook up the race.
Stop Press: The Labour MP Dawn Butler heralded Kemi’s victory by sharing a social media post accusing Kemi Badenoch of representing “white supremacy in blackface”. The Telegraph has more.
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