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.

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 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.