Why is Badenoch fighting a new culture war on burqas?

In clear evidence she is attempting to appeal to the right, Kemi Badenoch recently announced a review of Conservative policy on the European Convention on Human Rights and promised the end of "lawfare" against service personnel accused of crimes as well as curbs on "activist" judges.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Over the weekend, prompted by developments in Reform UK, she also said she wouldn’t speak to any constituent who came to one of her surgeries wearing a burqa, and described sharia courts and cousin marriage as “insidious”. It feels a bit desperate…

What is Badenoch up to?

You don’t have to be an expert engineer, as she is, to work it out. Reform UK and Nigel Farage have been eating her lunch, opening up a 10-point lead in the opinion polls, taking eight county councils from the Conservatives, humiliating Tory candidates in the Runcorn and Hamilton (Scottish parliament) by-elections, grabbing media attention (albeit not always positive) and generally behaving like the “real” opposition – more rallies, more headlines, more ideas, more presence and momentum. Even a leader as self-confident as Badenoch has cause to be worried.

What is she doing?