A British-Nigerian Member of Parliament, Kemi Badenoch, awaits the results of the Conservative Party leadership contest in the UK. The competition concluded on Thursday after months of campaigning. Badenoch, representing North West Essex, faced off against Robert Jenrick from Newark in the final round.
Both candidates vied for the support of thousands of Tory members to succeed Rishi Sunak, who lost the Prime Minister election on July 5. The race, which started with six contenders, underwent multiple voting rounds before narrowing down to Badenoch and Jenrick for the party membership vote.
Throughout her campaign, the 44-year-old MP focused on uniting the party, highlighting the detrimental effects of internal divisions within the Tories. While reports suggest she received last-minute backing from influential party members, the official announcement of the winner is scheduled for Saturday.
Despite referencing Jenrick’s past during the competition, Badenoch expressed gratitude to all party members for their participation as the polls closed on Thursday. In a message, she emphasized the Conservative Party’s significance as a familial entity rather than just an organization of members.
Badenoch concluded by thanking party members for their engagement and support, particularly those who backed her campaign for Renewal 2023.