THERE are plenty of reasons to celebrate Kemi Badenoch becoming Tory leader.
Fierce intelligence. Courage. Firm principles rarely seen since Maggie Thatcher. A preference for levelling with voters over spin.
Not to mention her own calm bemusement at the reaction to her becoming the first black leader of a major UK party.
“It shows my country and party are places where it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like . . . it’s about what the offer is,” she says.
“The best thing will be when the colour of your skin is no more remarkable than the colour of your eyes.” Well said.
Meanwhile Labour (exclusively led by middle-aged white men) has gifted her a big opportunity with its dire start.
And it is still plagued by extremist MPs such as Dawn Butler, who shared a Twitter troll’s rant that Kemi represents “white supremacy in blackface” and, incredibly, is a “victory for racism”.
Why does Keir Starmer still tolerate these hate-spewing halfwits?
IMAGINE if your car was twice as costly to run as the dealer advertised and, when challenged, they just said: We were wrong.
Before the election Rachel Reeves said Labour’s plans were fully funded and costed.
She said there could be no nasty surprises left by the Tories, since Government books are now open to all. She said no big tax rises would be needed.
Now, to justify exactly such increases, she claims £22billion of liabilities WERE hidden. Except that’s not what the OBR, on whose analysis she relies, says.
And a huge chunk of that “black hole” is to fund Labour’s own ideological choices, not inevitabilities.
Ms Reeves deserves credit for sparing working people a fuel duty rise.
But manifestos should be a genuine prospectus for Government. Voters are unlikely to forget Labour winning power then glibly confessing they were “wrong”.
We are now promised there will be no need for more tax rises. We trust the Chancellor will not want to get it wrong a second time.
WHY is disgraced Prince Andrew being allowed to remain in the Royal Lodge as it crumbles into disrepair?
His long lease has strict conditions about regular renovations, rebuilding and painting inside and out.
From our pictures it is impossible to imagine he is not in breach of it. And it is hard to fathom how he could afford the upkeep, in enforced retirement, if the King has cut off his allowance.
Only the man’s monstrous vanity prevents him from taking up the offer of Harry and Meghan’s refurbished and secure former gaff Frogmore Cottage.
For the sake of the historic Lodge, it’s time the Crown Estate evicted him.
THE Duke of York looks to have let his Windsor mansion go to ruin as his money problems pile up.
The 31-bed Royal Lodge appears in disrepair with cracks and black mould over the exterior walls.
Shocking pictures of the property emerged days after it was revealed King Charles has cut off his brother’s £1million-a-year allowance.
Prince Andrew, 64, spent an estimated £7million on repairs when he took on the Royal Lodge lease in 2003 following the death of the Queen Mother.
But now crumbling paintwork can be seen on outbuildings and the gatehouse.
The outside walls are also mouldy and falling away amid Andrew’s continuing financial woes.
It comes as King Charles prepares to make millions from a controversial mining operation, putting him at odds with environmental charities.
We previously revealed how 19th-century Grade-II listed Royal Lodge needs extensive repairs, costing £400,000 a year.
However, Charles, 75, has allegedly instructed the Keeper of the Privy Purse to completely remove financial ties with his scandal-hit brother.
A source told royal writer Robert Hardman: “The Duke is no longer a financial burden on the King.”
Andrew was stripped of his roles by Queen Elizabeth II after forking out millions of pounds to settle Virginia Giuffre’s sex claims case.
He denies any wrongdoing.
Hardman claims the late Queen would have reluctantly booted Andrew out of Royal Lodge and into the smaller Frogmore Cottage nearby if she were still alive.
As part of his Royal Lodge lease, Andrew must maintain the upkeep of the mansion – valued on the open market at £30million — which he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
It boasts 40 hectares of woods and manicured lawns.
Sentry posts guard the grounds which include eight cottages and accommodation for police and security.
Andrew has so far resisted eviction efforts, citing his lease agreement, and rejected downsizing at Frogmore Cottage.
The Sun previously revealed a National Audit Office report confirmed Andrew paid £1million for a 75-year lease.
However, if he left in the first 25 years — before 2028 — he would receive compensation for his original payment on repairs, with that amount shrinking each year.
The report states: “The maximum compensation of just under £7million is subject to annual reductions over the first 25 years of the term of the lease, so that at the end of that period, there is nil compensation payable.”
The grounds also cover the All Saints Chapel where Queen Camilla attends Sunday services.
Prince William and wife Kate do not want to move into Royal Lodge with their family and Camilla is also not keen.