Kemi Badenoch has had a good year. That sounds controversial, but the expectation was that she would be gone at the end of the year, or at least be in the ejector seat.

The Tories are notoriously ruthless when it comes to removing leaders. In October it seemed that Badenoch’s days were numbered; her team was despondent. Robert Jenrick seemed like a king over the water, waiting for an open invitation to waltz back in and take a crown that many felt was rightfully his.

But none of this happened. Badenoch has partially confounded her critics with more confident performances in the House of Commons and in the media more generally.

Much of her improvement, it must be said, is attributable to the fact that expectations were pitifully low. Nobody expected her to do anything.

My view has always been that anybody who took over the Tories in 2024 would have struggled to make an impact. After 14 years in government, the Tories looked tired and ready to move on.

The election gave the party its worst defeat in its history. Any leader, even one with the........

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