One of the regular refrains from Keir Starmer’s team during their wilderness years was that oppositions don’t win elections, governments lose them. So, there is an argument for the opposition to not rock the boat unless it really has to. Four months into this Labour government, some in the Tory party have started to think such tactics might work for them: sit quietly and hope Starmer self-destructs.
However, the election of Kemi Badenoch on Saturday changed that. MPs and members picked a leader who is not known for restraint. Instead, the Tory firebrand has won fans and critics in equal measure for her straight-talking approach that has seen her accused of being able to start a fight in an empty room.
