Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the British Conservatives, currently in opposition. She was elected with 53,806 votes, or 72.8%. Rival Robert Jenrick stopped at 41,338 preferences. Badenoch, first black woman to lead a major party in the UK, succeeds Rishi Sunak. «It was not an easy campaign for all of us – said Badenoch – There is so much to do, let’s start over. It will be a lot of fun but let’s get to work.” Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his opinion on X. «Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch who has been elected as the new leader of the Conservatives. A black woman candidate to lead the United Kingdom. Nice example of integration. As proposed by Ius Italiae. Which is not a left-wing proposal.”
Kemi Badenoch, 44-year-old daughter of Nigerian parents, has been elected as the new leader of the conservative Tory party, thus becoming the first woman of Afro-descendant to lead a major British political party and to aspire to the premiership in the United Kingdom. Secretary of State for Business and Trade in Rishi Sunak’s government, Badenoch was born in London and spent much of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK when she was 16. Known for her strong and radical opinions, she belongs to the far right wing of the party. Her heroine and source of inspiration is former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. A former computer engineer and mother of three children, the conservative, who has now replaced former leader Rishi Sunak, presents herself as a disruptive figure, supports a low-tax, free-market economy and has pledged to “restart and reprogram” the British state. Badenoch is also a critic of multiculturalism and a self-proclaimed enemy of Wokism: she has criticized ‘gender free’ bathrooms and government plans to reduce carbon emissions in the UK. During the leadership campaign she attracted criticism for saying that “not all cultures are equally valid” and for suggesting that maternity pay was excessive. Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, told the Associated Press that under Badenoch the Conservative Party will likely “swing to the right both in terms of economic policies and social policies.” He predicted that the new leader will focus heavily on “the trans issue, the immigration issue and skepticism about progress towards zero emissions.” Badenoch is the third female leader of the Conservatives, after Margaret Thatcher and Liz Truss, who both became prime minister. She is the second non-white Conservative leader, after Sunak, and the first with African heritage. The centre-left Labor Party, currently in government, has always been led only by white men. Badenoch won the race for the Tory leadership which lasted more than three months, beating rival Robert Jenrick, former immigration minister in the Sunak government, in the final. She will have the arduous task of trying to recover the party’s reputation after years of divisions and scandals and after the defeat of the last elections when the Tory party achieved its worst electoral result since 1832.
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**Interview with Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the British Conservatives**
**Interviewer:** Kemi, congratulations on your recent election as the leader of the British Conservatives! Being the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the UK is no small feat. How does it feel to make history in this way?
**Kemi Badenoch:** Thank you! It’s an incredible honor and I’m truly humbled. While I’m proud to represent a diverse Britain, my main focus is on the work ahead. It’s important to me that people see me as a representative of ideas and values, rather than just as a historical milestone.
**Interviewer:** You’ve described your vision as a “restart and reprogram” of the British state. What are the key changes you hope to implement?
**Kemi Badenoch:** My aim is to shift towards a low-tax, free-market economy where we empower individuals and businesses to thrive. This means re-evaluating regulations, reducing the fiscal burden on families and businesses, and fostering an environment of innovation and productivity. We need to be bold and take decisive actions to ensure our country moves forward effectively.
**Interviewer:** As a self-proclaimed critic of multiculturalism and ‘Wokism,’ how do you plan to approach issues of integration and identity in the UK?
**Kemi Badenoch:** I believe in the importance of integration but without diluting our shared values. It’s vital that we celebrate our rich cultural diversity while ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, subscribes to the core principles that unite us as a nation. That’s how we build a cohesive society.
**Interviewer:** You’ve mentioned Margaret Thatcher as your inspiration. How do her principles guide your leadership style and policy decisions?
**Kemi Badenoch:** Thatcher’s commitment to free markets and personal responsibility resonates deeply with me. She was not afraid to challenge the status quo, and I aim to carry that torch forward. Leadership requires courage, and I intend to apply her principles in navigating contemporary challenges facing our country.
**Interviewer:** What message do you have for your supporters and those who might be skeptical of your far-right approach?
**Kemi Badenoch:** I want everyone to know that my focus is on practical solutions that improve lives. It’s crucial that we engage in open dialogue, regardless of our differences, and find common ground. Change can be disruptive, but it can also lead to progress. I invite skeptics to join in that conversation and see the vision we are working towards.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Kemi. It will be interesting to see how your leadership unfolds in the coming months.
**Kemi Badenoch:** Thank you! I’m excited for the work ahead and the potential we have to redefine the future of our party and the country.
