Kemi Badenoch has won the race to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
The 44-year-old North West Essex MP has been declared the winner of the months-long contest, beating Robert Jenrick.
Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to Mr Jenrick’s 41,388.
Politics latest: Reaction after new leader of the opposition revealed
Ms Badenoch has served as shadow business and trade secretary since the Conservative Party lost the general election in July and Rishi Sunak said he would stand down as leader, triggering the campaign.
Her campaign was called Renewal 2030 and has targeted the next election for the Tories to return to power.
Ms Badenoch has been criticised at times for her outspoken approach, with opponents jumping on comments she has made about subjects such as maternity pay, gender equality and net zero.
But she has long been popular among the party membership, and previously ran to be leader in 2022.
It is not clear who her shadow cabinet will be made up of, but she has suggested that all those who ran to be leader against her should be involved.
However, James Cleverly revealed the day before the results that he would be returning to the backbenches.
Speaking after her win, Ms Badenoch thanked the other candidates, saying the party had come through the campaign “more united”.
The new leader went on to say the party’s first duty as opposition was to hold Labour to account – and also to prepare for government by the time of the next election.
She then went on to criticise previous Conservative administrations.
Ms Badenoch said: “Our party is critical to the success of our country.
“But to be heard,…
