Kemi Badenoch's victory speech in full as she becomes new Conservative Party leader

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Kemi Badenoch has won the race to become the new leader of the Conservative Party. Here is her first speech as party leader, delivered immediately after the result on Saturday: “I want to start by thanking Richard Fuller for his work as our party chairman since July, and also Bob Blackman as returning officer for this contest.

You and your teams have done us all a great service. “I also 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. READ MORE: The trendy Greater Manchester suburb waving goodbye to its 'last cheap food shop' “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. “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.