The Conservative Party has elected its next leader with Kemi Badenoch making history.
The MP for North West Essex won the leadership contest with 53,806 votes to Robert Jenrick’s 41,388.
She becomes the fourth women to lead the party and the first women of colour to do so.
Outgoing Leader Rishi Sunak said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative party leader.
“I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party. She will renew our party, stand up for Conservative values and take the fight to Labour.
“Let’s unite behind her.”
Other Political Parties have had there day with the Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davy saying: “I’d like to congratulate Kemi Badenoch on being elected leader of the Conservative Party.
“The election of the first Black leader of a major UK political party is a historic moment for the country.
“Voters across the country believe her party is too divided, out-of-touch and unable to accept Conservative failures over the past years.
“The Liberal Democrats will continue to offer the best opposition to the Government and fight for a fair deal for Britain.”
While Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage went on the attack saying: “Kemi Badenoch will make no difference as leader of the Conservative Party. They have broken the trust of the British people and the brand is broken.”
The Labour Party also went on the attack as Prime Minister Kier Starmer is yet to issue any comment on the election of his opposition in the House.
The former Workington Conservative MP, Mark Jenkinson has congratulated Badenoch in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
While the election of Kemi Badenoch MP is a historic first for the Party of the 130,000 members eligible to vote only 72.8 percent did with almost as many not voting as did vote for Robert Jenrick MP.
This leaves the new leader with a difficult battle on her hands as she looks to unite a very fractured Party that suffered its worst ever election defeat.
All eyes will now turn to who will be in the Shadow Cabinet with James Cleverly MP ruling himself out and then Badenoch’ first appearance as Leader at Prime Ministers Questions after a decisive Labour budget.
THE HERDWICK NEWS 