Conservative Party nearly ran out of money, says Badenoch

In a wide-ranging interview, Badenoch spoke about learning on the job, including thinking of Prime Minister's Questions "like a panto" rather than a cross-examination.

The Conservative leader admitted she initially spent a day preparing arguments and statistics, only to find that people were not following what she was saying.

No matter how much she prepared, Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer would simply dismiss her points as "rubbish".

"I just thought this isn't working," she said.

"It is more theatre than it is a prosecution or interrogation."

"It is the nature of British politics that we will have a panto" while political debate in other countries will have other "culturally appropriate analogies", she argued.

Focusing instead on one thing during PMQs and "peeling it back like layers of an onion" had allowed her better scrutinise the prime minister.

Badenoch also dismissed talk of rivals plotting against her.

Several senior figures, including former leadership rival Robert Jenrick and rising star Katie Lam, have attracted headlines with interventions on issues such as banning the burka and deporting migrants.

From today, backbench MPs can launch a vote to potentially topple Badenoch, as the grace period stopping them from submitting letters expressing no confidence in her expires after her first year in office.

But Badenoch claimed she had told colleagues "go on instinct" and post what they liked on social media to rally support ahead of the party's first conference.

"Just make sure that if it's something that is a new policy line that you check it just so we don't end up going off in different directions," she added.

Ahead of this month's Budget however, Badenoch said she was instilling greater focus among her colleagues on the party's economic pitch.

Despite Reform UK's commanding poll leader, Badenoch denied Nigel Farage was the government's main opposition, arguing she had forced major policy shifts on grooming gangs and the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Reform was "an existential threat" to every party, she said, adding: "It is very clear that Reform is hoovering up a lot of discontent, but discontent is not a policy for government."

She accused Farage's party of chasing headlines rather than substance, arguing Reform's policies "do not stand up to scrutiny".

Her comments came as Farage rowed back on his party's previous promise to deliver tax cuts worth £90bn a year.

Speaking on Monday, Farage said "substantial tax cuts" were not currently "realistic" because of the "dire state" of the public finances.

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