Kemi Badenoch styles herself as a straight-talker: a teller of difficult truths; the no-nonsense mum Britain desperately needs.

Listen to this article

It’s an effective persona because it’s authentic. Kemi Badenoch is all of those things, and it’s why an increasing number of voters are warming to her personally.

But in her keynote speech to the Tory conference, was a moment of rare dishonesty. While addressing the party faithful in Birmingham, she claimed the Conservatives are election-ready - even if one is called as early as next week. It might be a line she feels obliged to trot out, but no one seriously believes it.

When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader almost two years ago, the scale of the challenge facing her was immense. The public were rightly furious with much of what had occurred during the Conservatives’ 14 years in power, especially the chaos and incompetence that........

© LBC