Kemi Badenoch has won the Conservative Party leadership contest as the election results reveal Tory membership has plunged by almost a quarter over the past two years to its lowest level on record.
In a resounding victory after being the overwhelming odds on favourite to win, the right-wing culture warrior bagged 53,806 votes over Robert Jenrick's 41,000, out of a total electorate of 131,680.
In her first speech as leader, she admitted the Conservatives had “made mistakes” and “let standards slip” but vowed to rebuild the party.
Ms Badenoch’s predecessor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were among those who congratulated her after the results were announced on Saturday following a four-month-long race.
Barely 95,000 people voted in this year’s contest as turnout plunged to its lowest level on record amid declining party membership.
In 2022, when Liz Truss defeated Mr Sunak, 141,725 members out of a total of around 172,000 voted in that leadership contest.
However, by Saturday there were only 131,680 Tory members eligible to vote for their next leader, a drop of 23 per cent, while turnout fell from 82.6 per cent to 72.8 per cent.
Key Points
- Tory membership at lowest level on record, leadership results show
- Badenoch admits Conservatives 'let standards slip' but vows to rebuild party
- Kemi Badenoch becomes leader of Conservative Party
- Labour congratulates Badenoch but argues her election shows Tories ‘incapable of change’
- Sunak congratulates Badenoch and urges party to unite behind her
- Boris Johnson congratulates Badenoch who ‘brings much needed zing and zap’ to Tories
Door closed for Boris Johnson return to frontline politics
16:00
Political editor David Maddox
While Robert Jenrick said he would welcome disgraced former prime minister Boris Johnson back as an MP with a leading role in the party, Kemi Badenoch was noticeably quiet on the issue, reports political editor David Maddox.
In fact, as a junior minister in his government, she was not one of the ones who quit to force him out but also, leaked WhatsApp messages later revealed, was a leading voice urging others to follow suit.
A friend of Mr Johnson told The Independent that "there is no way back for him with Kemi in charge. The door is closed."
Mr Johnson personally congratulated Ms Badenoch on X, but her victory is seen as the party drawing a line on its recent troubled past.
Tory membership at lowest level on record, leadership results show
15:20
Tara Cobham
Conservative Party membership has fallen by almost a quarter over the past two years, Saturday’s leadership election results have revealed.
Barely 95,000 people voted in this year’s contest as turnout plunged to its lowest level on record amid declining party membership.
In 2022, when Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak, 141,725 members out of a total of around 172,000 voted in that leadership contest.
However, by Saturday there were only 131,680 Tory members eligible to vote for their next leader, a drop of 23 per cent, while turnout fell from 82.6 per cent to 72.8 per cent.
It was also the tightest on record: while previous Tory leaders secured more than 60 per cent of the vote, Kemi Badenoch was backed by 56.5 per cent of those who took part.
This still gave her a comfortable margin of victory over Robert Jenrick.
The previous record lows for both membership and number of votes was in 2019, when 139,318 out of around 159,000 Tory members at the time took part and elected Boris Johnson over Jeremy Hunt.
The percentage turnout is also the lowest on record, surpassing the previous low of 78.4 per cent in 2005.
The dip is part of a longer-term trend of declining Conservative Party membership, which stood at around 310,000 when members were given a vote on the leadership for the first time n 2001.
Declining party membership has been a feature of British politics generally for decades.
Kemi Badenoch becomes first Black woman to lead major European party
15:00
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch became the first Black woman to lead a major European political party as she was named Tory leader on Saturday.
Her victory over Robert Jenrick also made her the first Black leader of a major UK political party, following Rishi Sunak’s milestone as the first Asian leader of one of the main parties.
She becomes the fourth female Tory leader, following in the footsteps of her political heroine Margaret Thatcher, as well as the more recent leaders Theresa May and Liz Truss.
Ms Badenoch will hope to last longer as Tory leader than either Baroness May or Ms Truss, who spent three years and 49 days respectively in charge of their party, compared to Mrs Thatcher’s 15 years in the role.
While 1922 Committee chairman Bob Blackman hailed her election as “another glass ceiling shattered”, Ms Badenoch herself made no mention of her race or gender in her victory speech, instead focusing on her task of charting a path back to power for her party.
While the Conservatives have had four female leaders, including three of their last five, the Labour Party has so far had no permanent female leaders.
Asked when Labour would have a female leader, party chair Ellie Reeves said: “We may not have had a female leader of the Labour Party, but on Wednesday we smashed an 800-year-old glass ceiling with the first-ever female Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver a budget.”
The party also elected the first Black leader of a European nation in Vaughan Gething, who served as First Minister of Wales for a scandal-hit four months.
While Ms Badenoch is the first Black woman to lead a major European party, the first Black leader of such a party was Harlem Desir, who served as leader of the French Socialist Party between 2012 and 2014.
Badenoch repeats calls for Conservatives to ‘renew’ in social media post following win
14:40
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch has repeated her calls for the Conservatives to “renew” in a post on social media following her election as leader of the party.
In a post on X this afternoon, she wrote: “It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected to lead our great Conservative Party. A party that I love, that has given me so much.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to Robert Jenrick who fought a great campaign. I have no doubt he will have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.
“Thank you to all the members who have put their faith in me.
“It is time to get down to business.
“It is time to renew.”
It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected to lead our great Conservative Party. A party that I love, that has given me so much.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 2, 2024
I’d also like to pay tribute to @RobertJenrick who fought a great campaign. I have no doubt he will have a key role to play in our party… pic.twitter.com/BKs9YI6Oe7
Full story: Badenoch calls for Tories to be honest about mistakes as she’s elected leader
14:21
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch has called for the Tories to “be honest” about their mistakes in government after winning the Tory leadership vote – becoming the first Black leader of a Westminster party.
After beatint Robert Jenrick in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak, the former business secretary said the Conservatives need to unite behind her after years of infighting.
And, in a frank assessment of the party’s post-Brexit record, Ms Badenoch said: “We have to be honest; honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip.”
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
What will be the top issues facing Badenoch as leader of the Conservatives?
14:00
Tara Cobham
- Party unity: Ms Badenoch becomes the Tory party’s fourth leader since the summer of 2022. Tory MPs have had public disagreements and squabbles in recent years over topics from immigration to integrity. Conservative peer and elections commentator, Lord Robert Hayward, said bringing the party back together is the next leader’s number one task.
- Immigration: The issue of immigration and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is one that could bring party unity back to centre stage and has been a much-discussed topic during the campaign. Adam Drummond, the head of political and social research at pollster Opinium, said of the new leader, “it’s hard to see them not talking about immigration a lot”. Ms Badenoch has said that focusing on the ECHR risks shutting “the conversation that we need to have with the entire country” on immigration, and has not gone as far as to say she would quit the agreement completely, writing in The Daily Telegraph in September that “if necessary” the UK should leave “international frameworks like the ECHR”.
- The economy: Focusing on the economy could provide a “viable” path back to power for the Conservatives, Mr Drummond suggested. Responding to Rachel Reeves’ first Budget on Wednesday, Ms Badenoch told LBC that “this is not a growth Budget”.
- Winning back votes lost at the general election: The Conservatives secured 121 seats at the general election in July, losing constituencies to Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK in different parts of the country. Labour won almost 300 more seats than the Tories with 33 per cent of the vote, compared to the Conservatives’ 23 per cent. As well as reuniting the party in Parliament, Lord Hayward said that under the new leader, the party has to “get a message across to the public at large” about their position as Labour’s main opposition.
Kemi Badenoch: The darling of the Tory right bidding to lead them back to power
13:40
Tara Cobham
Never frightened to ruffle feathers, new Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch’s willingness to say what others may regard as unsayable has made her the darling of the Tory grassroots.
Her forthright views on issues from gender identity to institutional racism have thrilled supporters on the right while outraging critics on the left in equal measure.
In the course of a turbulent ministerial career Ms Badenoch clashed with civil servants over her insistence public buildings should have separate men’s and women’s toilet facilities and faced accusations of bullying her own officials.
Read more here:
Ellie Reeves ‘worried’ about policies Badenoch would advocate as leader of opposition
13:20
Tara Cobham
Ellie Reeves said she is “worried” about the policies that Kemi Badenoch would advocate as leader of the opposition.
The Labour Party chairwoman told broadcasters: “Kemi was part of the chaos of the last 14 years, serving in various roles.
“And when you think about her leadership campaign, she made some pretty negative comments about autistic children, she said that maternity pay was excessive and the national minimum wage was harmful.
“I’m quite worried about what that means.
“Is their policy going to be to get rid of maternity pay? Would they scrap the minimum wage?
“These are all the things that need to be answered.”
Jenrick congratulates Badenoch and calls for Conservative Party to ‘unite behind’ her
12:58
Tara Cobham
Robert Jenrick has congratulated Kemi Badenoch and called for the Conservative Party to “unite behind” her.
Following his defeat in the Tory leadership election, he posted on X: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch. Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics.
“It’s now time for the Conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour government.”
Congratulations to @KemiBadenoch.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) November 2, 2024
Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for a Conservative Party rooted in the common ground of British politics.
It’s now time for the @conservatives to unite behind Kemi and take the fight to this disastrous Labour Government.
Read Kemi Badenoch’s speech in full as new Tory leader: ‘The time has come to tell the truth’
12:45
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch has won the race to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, beating Robert Jenrick in the ballot of party members on Saturday.
She will take over from Rishi Sunak after winning 53,806 votes, while her rival received 41,388 votes.
Here is her first speech as party leader in full, delivered immediately after the result:
Conservative MP Chris Philp says ‘now whole party will unite behind’ Badenoch
12:26
Tara Cobham
Conservative MP Chris Philp said he is “delighted” that Kemi Badenoch has won the Conservative leadership race and “now the whole party will unite behind her”.
The former minister told the PA news agency that it is the party’s job to “take the fight to Labour” who have just “delivered a terrible Budget”.
He added: “We’re going to unite behind Kemi, we’re going to take the fight to Labour and develop a programme for government over the next few years that we can present to the British people at the next general election.”
On divisions among Conservatives in recent years, he said he thinks the party “recognises those challenges that we’ve had in the past and we’ve learned from that”.
He added: “Everybody in Parliament, the party more widely, no matter who they supported during this campaign will now get behind Kemi because it’s in the national interest that we hold this Labour Government to account for the terrible things they’re doing and present a credible alternative government at the next election.
“So I’m absolutely certain we’re going to have unity going forward.”
Watch: Kemi Badenoch’s husband gets choked up as wife wins Tory leadership race
12:19
Tara Cobham
Badenoch admits Conservatives 'let standards slip' but vows to rebuild party
12:12
Tara Cobham
Newly elected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has admitted the Conservatives “let standards slip” but vowed to rebuild the 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.”
Farage ‘not worried’ about Badenoch
12:08
Political editor David Maddox
Nigel Farage has told The Independent that he is “not worried” about Kemi Badenoch as leader of the Conservative Party, reports political editor David Maddox.
The Reform UK leader has laid out plans to replace the Tories as the main party on the right of British politics.
He messaged to say that he now believes there is a clear dividing line between the Tories and Reform with the issue of leaving the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) with Robert Jenrick, who supported that policy, rejected.
“The Tories have voted to stay in the ECHR,” said Mr Farage.
Shadow health secretary says Tories now have to ‘hold this dreadful socialist government to account'
11:55
Tara Cobham
Shadow health secretary Victoria Atkins has said the Conservative Party now has to “hold this dreadful socialist government to account”.
After the election of Kemi Badenoch, the former cabinet minister said she had voted for Robert Jenrick and praised him for “really holding himself out to be tested by everyone”.
She told Sky News: “Of course I feel very disappointed for him and his family and his team” but “we as a Conservative family really want this to work”.
“We’ve got to hold this dreadful socialist government to account, and we know that we can do this.
“We’ve seen this week the impact of the Budget on people’s lives, whether they live in rural communities, whether they employ people, or indeed (are) employees.”
Asked if she would “hold that portfolio” of health in Ms Badenoch’s shadow cabinet, Ms Atkins said: “I’m in the hands of others now, but what I do know is my personal commitment to both the health portfolio, but also the wonderful constituency that re-elected me, these are the things that I will be focussing on.”
Labour must act on Europe while Tories rebuild, says campaign group
11:51
Tara Cobham
A campaign group has called for Labour to act on Europe while the Tories are “distracted” with rebuilding following Kemi Badenoch’s election as leader.
Responding to the news Ms Badenoch has won the Conservative leadership contest and will be the next party leader, Naomi Smith, Chief Executive at Best for Britain said,: “Badenoch has a huge job on her hands, taking over a party beset by internal division and declining public trust, and which has been without direction for months now.
“While the Conservative Party is distracted with its rebuild, the Government must take advantage and slash the Brexit red tape they inherited to boost trade with Europe and get the economy growing again.”
Leader of Welsh Conservatives ‘looks forward to working to put an end to Labour’s rule’ with Badenoch
11:49
Tara Cobham
Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said he looked forward to working with Kemi Badenoch to “hold Labour to account”.
He said: “On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, I’d like to congratulate Kemi on becoming leader of our party and wish her well in leading HM Opposition.
“Both candidates brought forward a positive vision for our country and now that the contest is finished, it’s time to come together and get behind Kemi in holding this dreadful Labour Government to account who have already caused so much damage to Wales in their short time in power in London.
“For Wales, and for the United Kingdom, it’s vital that we put an end to Labour’s rule at both ends of the M4, and I look forward to working with Kemi to make that happen.”
Badenoch tells party their task is ‘tough but simple'
11:48
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch told her party after they elected her leader of the Conservatives that their task is “tough but simple”.
She said: “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.”
Badenoch pays tribute to leadership rival Jenrick after her election
11:47
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to her leadership rival Robert Jenrick after her election and said the party’s task was “tough but simple”.
She said: “I’d also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick, who has fought a great campaign.
“Rob, we have all been impressed by your energy and your determination. You and I know that we don’t actually disagree on very much, and I have no doubt that you have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.
“I would also like to thank all the other candidates: Priti, Mel, Tom and James, for your kind words and your many insights.
“We have come through this campaign more united and the party needs you now more than ever.”
Sunak congratulates Badenoch and urges party to unite behind her
11:46
Tara Cobham
Rishi Sunak congratulated Kemi Badenoch on becoming Conservative leader, urging the party to unite behind her.
He said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative Party leader.
“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.
“Let’s unite behind her.”
Congratulations to @KemiBadenoch on being elected @Conservatives party leader.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 2, 2024
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.
Let’s unite behind her.
Starmer congratulates Badenoch on being named new Tory leader
11:45
Tara Cobham
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.”
Congratulations, @KemiBadenoch, on becoming the Conservative Party’s new leader.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 2, 2024
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.
Badenoch says ‘huge job’ ahead involves ‘people we want to bring back to Conservative Party’
11:44
Tara Cobham
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.”
11:42
Tara Cobham
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.”
Lib Dems congratulate Badenoch on win but insist their party still offers ‘best opposition’ to government
11:41
Tara Cobham
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.”
Badenoch’s election ‘threatens to drag politics further to right’, says cross-party campaign group
11:39
Tara Cobham
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."
Labour congratulates Badenoch but argues her election shows Tories ‘incapable of change’
11:36
Tara Cobham
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.”
Watch: Moment Kemi Badenoch is announced as new Tory leader to replace Rishi Sunak
11:34
Tara Cobham
Boris Johnson congratulates Badenoch who ‘brings much needed zing and zap’ to Tories
11:32
Tara Cobham
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.”
Congratulations to Kemi on her outstanding victory
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 2, 2024
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…
Analysis: The Conservatives have rejected Trumpism and a path of aping Farage
11:23
David Maddox
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.
Reform UK were straight on the attack against Kemi Badenoch
11:22
Tara Cobham
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.”
Turnout in Tory leadership election was 72.8 per cent
11:17
Tara Cobham
Turnout in the Conservative leadership election was more than 72 per cent.
Kemi Badenoch received 53,806 votes, while Robert Jenrick received 41,388 votes.
Some 66,288 electors voted online and 29,621 electors voted by post, while 655 ballots were rejected.
There were 131,680 eligible electors overall.
'Enormous honour' to be Tory leader, Badenoch says
11:16
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell
Kemi Badenoch has said it is an "enormous honour" to be elected Conservative Party leader.
She has thanked her husband Hamish, saying she would not have been able to win the long-running campaign without him. And Ms Badenoch thanked Rishi Sunak for his stewardship of the Tories since its crushing election defeat in July.
She went on to thank rival Robert Jenrick, joking that "you and I don't actually disagree on very much".
And she went on to set out the "tough" task facing the Tories, promising to "hold this Labour government to account".
Badenoch wins big
11:13
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell
In a resounding victory, Kemi Badenoch has become the leader of the Conservative Party.
The right-wing culture warrior won with 53,806 votes over Robert Jenrick's 41,000, out of a total electorate of 131,680.
She will now address Tory MPs, members, the media and the public in her first speech as Tory leader.
Kemi Badenoch announced as new leader of Conservative Party
11:10
Tara Cobham
Kemi Badenoch has been announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party.
The chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs, Bob Blackman, revealed the result this morning.
Tory Party chairman thanks six leadership candidates and calls for winner to be given ‘our full support’
11:08
Tara Cobham
The Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller has thanked all six leadership candidates and called for the winner to be given “our full support”.
Alongside the final two candidates Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch – Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly also put their names forward in the nominations at the end of July and spent the summer campaigning before they were each knocked out of the contest.
Tory chairman takes the stage
11:07
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell
The chairman of the Conservative Party, Richard Fuller, has taken the stage ahead of the announcement of the new Tory leader.
In a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-esque speech, the party head is dragging out the process to build as much suspense as possible.
Party members, MPs and the assembled press are keen to know who has come out on top.
But Mr Fuller has welcomed the contenders to the stage and is thanking the Tory rank and file for their efforts during the leadership contest.
Tory leadership announcement process gets underway
11:03
Tara Cobham
The Tory leadership announcement process has got underway.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller is giving an introduction, before the result is announced by the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs Bob Blackman.
Tory faithful gather in London to hear from their new leader
10:59
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell
From Jacob Rees-Mogg, to Victoria Atkins, to everyday Conservative Party members... the Tory faithful are out in force to hear from their new leader at a fancy London hotel.
Around the corner from Parliament, MPs, activists and campaign staff are gathered for the announcement of who has won - Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick.
Mr Jenrick's top campaign aide looks knackered and a little upset - with Ms Badenoch widely expected to come out on top.
But the former immigration minister could pull off a shock win.
Conservative leadership result to be announced in few minutes
10:57
Tara Cobham
The Conservative leadership result is going to be announced in a few minutes.
The final two candidates, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick, will find out who will become Tory leader this morning, with the announcement process beginning at around 11am.
Watch live: Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick announced as Tory leader
10:54
