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Kemi Badenoch has known as for the Tories to “be honest” about their mistakes in authorities after successful the Tory management vote – changing into the primary Black leader of a Westminster celebration.
After beatint Robert Jenrick within the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak, the previous enterprise secretary mentioned the Conservatives want to unite behind her after years of infighting.
And, in a frank evaluation of the celebration’s post-Brexit file, Ms Badenoch mentioned: “We have to be honest; honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.”
After a four-month management contest, Ms Badenoch gained the backing of 53,806 Tory members, with Mr Jenrick taking simply 41,388 votes.
Addressing present and former MPs, celebration members and the press at a lodge in Westminster, Ms Badenoch mentioned: “The time has come to tell the truth. 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 time to get down to business, it is time to renew.”
Labour and the Liberal Democrats congratulated Ms Badenoch, with Sir Keir Starmer saying: “The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.”
“I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people,” the prime minister added.
Foreign secretary David Lammy mentioned: “Your election as the first Black leader of a Westminster party is an important moment not only for Brits from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country.”
But Labour chairman Ellie Reeves went on the assault, saying the Conservatives “have learned nothing since the British people resoundingly rejected them in July”.
“Kemi Badenoch’s election as leader shows they’re incapable of change,” she added.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK additionally criticised the brand new leader, pointing to Conservative failures and her roles in authorities.
Ms Badenoch faces the daunting problem of attempting to win again voters from the right-wing populist celebration, whereas additionally looking for not to additional alienate extra reasonable Conservative voters who deserted the celebration for the Lib Dems in July.
She takes over the Conservatives as the celebration recorded its first ballot lead over Labour because the Partygate scandal broke in December 2021, with BMG Research discovering the Tories on 29 per cent of the vote, in contrast with Sir Keir’s celebration on 28 per cent. But a YouGov ballot printed forward of the outcome discovered 4 in 10 voters had an unfavourable view of Ms Badenoch, together with 29 per cent of Conservative voters, whereas Britons had been extra probably to suppose Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would make a greater prime minister.
Ms Badenoch additionally turns into the fourth lady to lead the Conservative Party after Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss.
The Tory management election, which adopted the celebration’s worst basic election defeat in historical past, noticed six candidates go head to head for the backing of MPs and celebration members over greater than 100 days. It noticed gaffes together with Ms Badenoch’s suggestion maternity pay is “excessive”, her declare that fifty,000 “very bad” civil servants ought to be jailed and repeated allegations of “dirty tricks” together with round the shock ousting of reasonable Mr Cleverly by MPs.
But, whereas she gained the backing of greater than half of the 96,000 Tory members who voted, Ms Badenoch was supported by simply 42 of the remaining 121 Conservative MPs.
Mr Sunak urged the Conservatives to unite behind their new leader, saying: “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.” And his predecessor, Boris Johnson, mentioned Ms Badenoch introduced “a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative Party”.
After telling Conservatives the celebration is now “more united” following the management contest, Ms Badenoch mentioned: “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 next 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 government works.
“The prime minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan. That huge job begins today.”
Conceding to Ms Badenoch, Mr Jenrick mentioned on X: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch.
“Thank you to everybody who supported my imaginative and prescient for a Conservative Party rooted within the widespread floor of British politics.
“It’s now time for the Conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour government.”
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