In her victory speech, Badenoch described her first tasks as ‘tough but simple’ – we’d argue they’re tough and extremely challenging.

Kemi Badenoch has made her first major opposition front bench appointments since being named leader of the Conservative party. The North West Essex MP selected ex Treasury minister Laura Trott as her shadow education secretary.

The Conservative Party has elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, who describes herself as a “net zero sceptic” and has received funding from the head of a climate science denial campaign. Badenoch was announced as the winner of the Tory leadership contest on Saturday,

Like her political heroine Margaret Thatcher, Kemi Badenoch - who is the new Conservative leader - divides opinion even within her own party. Her robust views, "anti-woke" values and no-nonsense style have made her a darling of the Conservative right and the party's grassroots and they have chosen her over fellow right winger Robert Jenrick.

Badenoch replaces Rishi Sunak, who stood down as party leader following the Conservatives' defeat in the 2024 general election.

Ms. Badenoch’s ascent is partly the result of a deliberate diversifying of the party under David Cameron in the 2000s. In her politics, she exemplifies its more recent rightward turn.

New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has revealed the 24 members of her shadow cabinet, with some of her former leadership rivals handed top gigs. Dame Priti Patel was named as her Shadow Foreign Secretary,

At the start of the weekend there was an outburst of rejoicing among Tory activists - not something they have been accustomed to in recent years. A single opinion poll suggested the Conservatives are now in the lead.