Badenoch to Trevor Phillips.

With the Tories trailing in third position behind Reform and Labour Ms. Badenoch has a tough road ahead. Sir Keir Starmer when he became Labour leader, Badenoch, has to use his words: "A mountain to climb". However, Sir Keir reached the top of that mountain and became Prime Minister. Sir Keir in his time as opposition leader faced many challenges. Despite all that, Keir won with a thumping majority and became the denizen of No 10. Whether Ms. Badenoch can climb that proverbial mountain and achieve the goal of replacing Keir, remains to be seen.

The biggest threat to her time as Tory leader is Reform UK. Led by Nigel Farage. Reform has overtaken the Tories in some polls. They are within touching distance of Sir Keir Starmer. The fact that the Tories are third in some polls is worrying. It can be overcome but Kemi will need something miraculous to do it. Of course, she has only been Tory leader on the heels of Rishi Sunak's defeat. So she may need time to bed in like any new leader.

Badenoch is on the right of the Tories on many issues, particularly immigration. However, in conversation with Sky's Trevor Phillips, she spoke at length about immigration. Kemi Badenoch said she only wants immigrants who fit into our society. So, what does she mean by that? More people who look like Native Brits, people who are Christian, and people who have Western values. Based on those stipulations Kemi would accept more immigrants.

Kemi knows she is treading a tightrope between two pressures. One is employers who want more migrants to fill jobs. Conversely, you have Reform who want net-0 migration and immigration. So Badenoch's take as described in a conversation with Trevor Phillips on immigration appears to be the middle way. Rejecting foreigners who do not fit into our society and accepting those who do. Which side will win out in Badenoch's mind remains to be seen.

However, that decision will be taken out of her hands. How will the voters react and respond to this middle way as espoused by Badenoch? The local elections will happen at some point this year. If her party doesn't do well in the local elections, it won't be good news. However, will that loss be because of her middle-of-the-road immigration policy? If Reform UK do well that could be seen as a rejection of Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on immigration. It could also be seen as her failure to connect with the British people. Also, not offering anything alternative to Labour or her 5 Tory predecessors that proceded her.

Kemi Badenoch said she backed Chancellor Rachel Reeve's go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow. The construction of such a runway would enable the airport to handle more aircraft traffic. It would bring much-needed finance into the economy. It would create jobs certainly, however, that comes with a caveat. Local people do not want land destroyed by another runway. They do not want the noise, pollution, and low-flying aircraft that blight their lives.

In interviews with locals, they espoused such views. While some may see the benefits of an airport or accept it others will be against it. However, as Reeves said it will be into the 2030s before the first "spade hits the ground". In that time things can change and people will find a way of blocking it in the literal sense of the word or court.

So the Tories I suspect whether Badenoch is leader or not in the foreseeable future will continue in opposition. Being in 3rd position in some polls will be new ground for the Tories. Usually, it's the Lib Dems who are in third place. Reform is eating into traditional Tory ground hence the third place of the Conservatives.