It was PMQs today and it is clear to see that Kemi Badenoch is starting to enjoy herself. She opened with the departure of the head of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), as it allowed her to suggest that Starmer was dodging taking responsibility himself. She asked: ‘Does the Prime Minister believe that when an organisation descends into total shambles, the person at the top should resign?’ To be fair, she has lots of ammunition between the leaks, botched Budgets and Cabinet discontent – however, the leader of the opposition does seem to be hitting her stride just at the moment when the Tories are enjoying a modest bump in the polls. Can she keep it up?

Also on the podcast, the rumour mill is buzzing with renewed talk of a Tory/Reform pact after comments made by Nigel Farage to a group of donors. Reportedly he told the room that an agreement on cooperation between the two parties could help Reform’s path to No. 10. Is a pact becoming more likely?

Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and Isabel Hardman.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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