Hello and welcome to The Rondown, a podcast from Politics Home with me, Alan Tolhurst.

This week, we're looking at the future of Conservative Party. After 14 years in power, it was

unceremoniously booted out of office under a labour landslide in July's general election.

After a drawn-out contest, Kimmy Bade Nock won the chance to lead the party as it tries to build an opposition. Universally seen as the worst job in politics, this leader

opposition will have a harder job than most. With just 121 MPs, Tories are not just routed,

but still riven with competing factions divided on what direction the party will take. We'll

me to discuss what can be achieved in opposition and how they can plot a path back to

power? I'm glad to say I'm joined by Baroness Kate Fall, who is Deputy Chief of Staff, David Cameron

for more than a decade, as well as Fred de Fossard, director of Strachate at the Legartum Institute

and a former Conservative Special Advisor. And later on, I'll have a chat with Henry Hill, conservative home. So Fred will start with you. Bade Knox time in office. It's less than a week

into it. But how have you kind of seen these first few days of her taking over? I think the start

has been quite interesting. I've been following the appointments, which I think tells you an

interesting story about the state, the Conservative Party and her strategy for the time being.

Like everybody else, I was definitely very surprised by the shadow chancellor and foreign

secretary appointment, but it does show a very clear signal to try and bridge certain

divides in the Conservative Party.

But I think it does also reflect that the Conservative Party only has 121 MPs to play

with, so it does limit choices significantly, particularly when you consider that many of

of Chemie's close advisors on her campaign

are actually former MPs, Rachel McLean, Simon Clark. So great, great policy brains that the Tories

are deprived of in the Green Benches right now. I'm particularly interested in the appointment of someone

like Robert Jenrick, to Shadow Justice. It's giving him quite an interesting platform to continue

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