Tory leadership live: Badenoch wins as poll shows Conservative party membership numbers at lowest ever

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Kemi Badenoch on being named the new Tory leader.

He said in a post on X: “Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch on becoming the Conservative Party’s new leader.

“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.”

Newly elected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the “huge job” ahead involves “the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party”.

She said: “This is not just about the Conservative Party, it is about the people we want to bring back to the Conservative Party, it is about the people we need to bring into the Conservative Party.

“It is about what the Conservative Party needs to be over the next five, 10 and 20 years.

“Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest – honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.

“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.”

Kemi Badenoch thanked former prime minister Rishi Sunak after she was elected as the new Conservative Party leader.

In her speech, she said: “I want to pay tribute to everyone in the Conservative Party who has been involved in this very long campaign, it has been an experience none of us candidates will ever forget – thank you for hosting us in your communities, in your village halls, in your pubs and in your homes.

“It is the most enormous honour to be elected in this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much – I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.”

Mrs Badenoch smiled as she thanked her family: “There are so many people to thank; firstly, my family, especially my husband Hamish – I couldn’t have done this without you, thank you for being with me every step of the way.”

“I also want to thank Rishi, no one could have worked harder in such difficult times – Rishi, thank you for everything you did, we all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future.”

The Liberal Democrats have congratulated Kemi Badenoch on her win but insisted their party still offers “the best opposition” to the government.

Responding to the news Ms Badenoch has been announced as the new Conservative Party Leader, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “I’d like to congratulate Kemi Badenoch on being elected leader of the Conservative Party. The election of the first Black leader of a major UK political party is a historic moment for the country.

“Voters across the country believe her party is too divided, out-of-touch and unable to accept Conservative failures over the past years.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue to offer the best opposition to the Government and fight for a fair deal for Britain.”

Kemi Badenoch’s election as Tory leader “threatens to drag politics further to the right”, a cross-party campaign group has said.

Responding to the Tory leadership election results, Neal Lawson, Director of cross-party campaign group Compass, said: "The election of Kemi Badenoch as Tory Party leader is yet another example of how First Past the Post distorts our politics and drives it to the right. The Tories aren’t speaking to the country – they’re speaking to the relatively small pool of swing voters who jumped ship for Reform.

"As ever, we’re left with a huge gulf between what the wider public really wants and the politics we actually get.

"Some in Labour will welcome Badenoch’s election – the more the Tories head to the right the more space it leaves them. But all the evidence is that Reform drags the Tories to the right and then Labour moves into that territory. Badenoch's election could continue that right wing trend."

The Labour Party has congratulated Kemi Badenoch for being elected leader of the Conservative Party but argued her win shows the Tories are “incapable of change”.

Ellie Reeves MP, Chair of the Labour Party, said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Leader of the Conservative Party.

“It’s been a long leadership election but sadly one thing is clear – the Conservatives have learned nothing since the British people resoundingly rejected them in July. It’s been a summer of yet more Conservative chaos and division. They could have spent the past four months listening to the public, taking responsibility for the mess they made and changing their party. Instead, Kemi Badenoch’s election as leader shows they’re incapable of change.

“Meanwhile, the Labour government is getting on with fixing the foundations of our economy and cleaning up the mess the Tories left behind.”

Boris Johnson has congratulated Kemi Badenoch on her “outstanding” victory in the Conservative Party as he said she “brings a much needed zing and zap” to the Tories while he slammed the “sleaze-ridden” Labour government.

In a post on X following the announcement of the results, he said: “Congratulations to Kemi on her outstanding victory.

“She brings a much needed zing and zap to the Conservative Party.

“This sleaze-ridden Labour government has no ideas or agenda beyond the old tax and spend socialism.

“They are far more vulnerable than the parliamentary maths might suggest.

“Kemi has exactly the right courage and clarity to expose Starmer’s failings.

“She is now ideally placed to flip them over and take the Tories to victory at the next election.

“I will be giving her my full support and call on all Conservatives to do the same.”

While this Tory leadership election was portrayed as two rightwingers, party members had a very clear choice, writes political editor David Maddox.

Kemi Badenoch represented a considered open approach to leadership while her opponent Robert Jenrick offered Trump style politics and a path towards becoming Nigel Farage and Reform UK light.

In making a clear choice the Tories have said they want to hang on to the centre ground and not lurch enormously to the right.

While Mr Jenrick wanted to ditch the European Convention of Human Rights and went jogging in provocative T-shirts on the Israel/ Hamas war, Ms Badenoch has always insisted on a more considered approach.

In the end the backing of Damian Green and his One Nation group supporters from the left of the party were probably crucial in Ms Badenoch’s victory.

Now with the choice made, she has the much tougher task of taking that approach to politics in a way which rebuilds the Tories as an electoral force from ruin.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK wasted no time going on the attack against Kemi Badenoch, sending journalists a briefing on her "record of failure".

The dossier included claims the former business secretary "abandoned the sunset clause with the Retained EU Law Bill", allowing European laws to remain in place in the UK after Brexit.

It also attacked her for committing Britain to staying in the European Convention on Human Rights, supporting net zero legislation and supporting measures to allow more immigration into the UK.

Deputy Reform leader Richard Tice said: "Kemi Badenoch is another in a long line of Tory politicians who say one thing and do another.

“Kemi Badenoch was front and centre of a Government that failed Britain. She said nothing while Rishi Sunak hit hard working people with record immigration, the small boats crisis, the highest taxes for seventy years, record NHS waiting lists and sky high crime.

“Instead of standing up for Britain whilst in Government, she stood up for her own career prospects and chauffeur driven cars.

“She has failed the British public before and she will fail them again as leader of the Conservative Party.”