The Conservative Party has elected Kemi Badenoch as its first Black leader since the party's founding in 1834. Announced as the new Opposition Leader on Saturday, Badenoch has made history not only as the first Black leader of the Conservative Party but also as the first Black woman to lead any major political party in the UK.
At 44, Badenoch, a mother of three, secured 53,806 votes from party members, while her opponent, Robert Jenrick, received 41,388 votes after the parliamentary party eliminated four other candidates. The announcement coincided with a new poll showing the Conservatives leading Labour for the first time since December 2021.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government opened her acceptance speech by expressing gratitude to her predecessor, Rishi Sunak, the party’s first British Indian leader. "I want to thank Rishi; no one could have worked harder during such challenging times. Rishi, thank you for all that you did. We wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future," Badenoch said.
Rishi Sunak responded on social media, extending his support: "Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative Party leader. I am confident she will be an outstanding leader of our great party. She will reinvigorate the party, uphold Conservative values, and challenge Labour. Let's come together behind her."
Born Olukemi (later shortened to Kemi) Olufunto Adegoke, on January 2, 1980, in Wimbledon, London, she was the daughter of Nigerian Yoruba parents. Her mother travelled from Nigeria to the UK to give birth at St. Teresa’s Private Hospital just before the British Nationality Act of 1981, which removed automatic birthright citizenship for those born in the UK. Shortly after her birth, Badenoch returned with her family to Nigeria, where she spent much of her childhood. Her father, Femi Adegoke, was a general practitioner, and her mother, Feyi Adegoke, a professor of physiology. She is one of three siblings, with a brother and a sister.
Badenoch’s early years were spent between Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States, where her mother lectured. At age 16, she returned to the UK to live with a family friend due to Nigeria’s worsening political and economic climate, which had affected her family. Though born in the UK, Badenoch described herself in her maiden parliamentary speech as “to all intents and purposes a first-generation immigrant.”
Before becoming leader, Badenoch served in the Cabinet under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Essex since 2024, and previously represented Saffron Walden from 2017 to 2024.
Badenoch’s election signals a continued shift to the right for the UK's oldest political party, indicating that it may adopt a more hardline stance on issues such as immigration, climate policy, and cultural matters in opposition.
Shadow cabinet unveiled
Kemi Badenoch has announced her complete shadow cabinet, with Chris Philp appointed as shadow home secretary. Former British Indian home secretary Priti Patel has taken on the role of shadow foreign secretary and was one of the early contenders to succeed Rishi Sunak.
The shadow cabinet also features Claire Coutinho as Shadow Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero. Coutinho was Rishi Sunak's choice for the Energy Secretary position during his tenure as Prime Minister. While in that role, she advocated for the expansion of North Sea oil and gas extraction and campaigned for legislation to mandate annual licensing rounds for the industry.
The full shadow cabinet is as follows:
- Shadow chancellor - Mel Stride
- Shadow foreign secretary - Dame Priti Patel
- Shadow home secretary - Chris Philp
- Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow Northern Ireland secretary - Alex Burghart
- Shadow defence secretary - James Cartlidge
- Shadow justice secretary - Robert Jenrick
- Shadow education secretary - Laura Trott
- Shadow health secretary - Ed Argar
- Shadow levelling up secretary - Kevin Hollinrake
- Shadow environment secretary - Victoria Atkins
- Shadow business secretary - Andrew Griffith
- Shadow energy secretary - Claire Coutinho
- Shadow work and pensions secretary - Helen Whately
- Shadow transport secretary - Gareth Bacon
- Shadow culture secretary - Stuart Andrew
- Shadow science secretary - Alan Mak
- Shadow Scotland secretary - Andrew Bowie
- Shadow Wales secretary - Mims Davies
Also appointed were:
- Opposition chief whip - Dame Rebecca Harris
- Shadow leader of the Commons - Jesse Norman
- Shadow leader of the Lords - Lord True
- Co-chairmen of the party - Nigel Huddleston and Lord Johnson
- Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury - Richard Fuller
