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10:44 03.11.2024 •
Kemi Badenoch insisted it is 'time to get down to business' today after being named the new Tory leader, ‘The Daily Mail’ writes.
Ms Badenoch said Keir Starmer had given the Tories an opportunity with his shaky start. 'The PM is discovering all-too late the perils of not having such a plan,' she said.
Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to 41,388 for Mr Jenrick – 53 per cent to 47 per cent, closer than many expected. Turnout was only 72.8 per of the 131,000 activists.
She was congratulated by Sir Keir for becoming the first black leader of a major UK political party - another first for the Tories.
The moment brings to an end a four-month contest to succeed Rishi Sunak that saw bruising attacks and claims of 'dirty tricks'.
During the campaign the candidates aimed brutal barbs at each other, with Ms Badenoch questioning Mr Jenrick's 'integrity' – and him suggesting the Conservatives will 'die' with her at the helm.
In an early boost for Ms Badenoch, it has been confirmed that the threshold for triggering a Tory no-confidence vote has been raised from 15 per cent of MPs to 33 per cent.
She faces a mammoth task to restore Tory fortunes and see off the threat from Reform after the astonishing July election rout that reduced the party to just 121 MPs.
They will also have to achieve the revival without some of the surviving 'big beasts'. James Cleverly – seen as the favourite for leader until his shock eviction in the final round of voting by MPs last month – has announced he will not take a job in the shadow cabinet.
Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also said he will not seek to serve, as has ex-deputy PM Oliver Dowden. There are rumours that Sir Oliver will quit the Commons, with ousted Cabinet stalwart Grant Shapps said to be eyeing his seat.
James Cleverly has become the latest Tory big beast to rule out serving on the new leader's front bench.
The shadow home secretary said he did not want to be 'boxed back into a narrow band' after being 'liberated' by his own bid for the top job.
The decision to step aside, revealed in comments to the Financial Times, will spark speculation that he is positioning for another tilt should Mr Sunak's replacement Kemi Badenoch crash and burn.
Emma Levin, Associate Director of polling firm Savanta, said: 'Despite being the presumptive winner for many months now, not since David Cameron's unexpected victory in 2005 has there been such a relative unknown elevated to leader of the Conservative Party.
'For Kemi Badenoch, this may well prove to be a positive, as she gets a new opportunity to present herself to the public, and represent a clean break from a deeply unpopular Conservative government – even if she was a part of it.'
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