Who is Kemi Badenoch, the potential kingmaker who could decide the next UK PM?

Guess who could play a key role in picking the next United Kingdom prime minister is. It’s the “wild card” Kemi Badenoch. The little-known candidate could play kingmaker as the race hots up.

Former finance minister Rishi Sunak has increased his lead in the third round of voting by Conservative lawmakers to pick the next party leader and the country’s prime minister. The winner will succeed the embattled Boris Johnson.

On Monday, Sunak won the support of 115 lawmakers, followed by Penny Mordaunt, who bagged 82 votes. Liz Truss got 71, Kemi Badenoch 58 and Tom Tugendhat was on 31, dropping out as the last-placed candidate. It looks like the Indian-origin MP will make the final two candidates. But the question remains on who will he be up against.

The two candidates predicted for second place did not make as many gains. Mordaunt, a bookies’ favourite, lost a vote and Truss did not win as many as she hoped. This means that Badenoch, who gained ground in the third vote, and her backers could decide who leads the country next.

It is vitally important that we create a strong United Kingdom that is confident in itself.

I can make a change, and change things for the better.

My closing remarks from tonight’s debate