She would cross the road to bite your ankles, whether you were goading her or not!”This is a remark from a long term admirer of Kemi Badenoch, delighted to see her win the Conservative leadership contest.

Kemi Badenoch said she will tell "hard truths" to both the country and her party as she began her first full day as Conservative leader. In her first interview since winning the Tory leadership election, Badenoch said the UK is getting poorer and older, and is being "outcompeted" by other countries.

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.

Hamish Badenoch met Kemi when he was a Conservative activist in the Dulwich and West Norwood Tory association, which led to their friendship and his becoming her campaign manager. Hamish has been likened to Margaret Thatcher’s husband Denis who offered to give lifts to young Thatcher during her campaigns in the early 1950s.

Kemi Badenoch set to face Keir Starmer in first PMQs as Tory leader The Sun delivers breaking news, latest gossip and incredible exclusives around the world with hubs in London, New York, Scotland and Ireland.

In her victory speech last week, Badenoch promised to "renew" the Conservative Party, saying "it's time to get down to business".