Kemi Badenoch has a tough road ahead. Let’s pray she navigates it well

Leading the opposition with such a small number of seats is a real challenge, says Tim Farron. The new Conservative Party leader - who describes herself as a “cultural Christian” but also says she’s not at all religious - will need our prayers

Kemi Badenoch has won the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and, in doing so, also becomes the new leader of the opposition. Following the Conservatives’ landslide election defeat earlier this year, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. They are currently the smallest official opposition in living memory, and now, they will be looking to Badenoch to ring the changes.

Badenoch is the first black woman to lead a Westminster Party. But despite it being celebrated as historic by many, Badenoch herself has played it down, saying she doesn’t want “that to be the thing that ends up being talked about”.