𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The unique chance came as I caught up with Kemi Badenoch during her whirlwind last day of campaigning before local election polls opened on Thursday morning. We caught up in Croydon – stop two of a taxi ride around seven of London’s outer boroughs.

Kemi was as charming as ever, first chatting to business owners on the small High Street, before answering my questions in the back seat of the cab.

The Tory leader has a bit of a reputation for being combative or abrasive, but in my numerous meetings with her it has been quite the opposite.

She’s funny, engaging and, most importantly, doesn’t duck any questions and gives straight answers.

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Tory leader as she’s been leading the charge in parliament against Sir Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson scandal while criss-crossing much of Great Britain on the election campaign trail.

As all politicians do, she has visited, among many other places, factories, refineries and breweries on her travels.

She has been on boats, tractors, and trucks, while conducting countless interviews – including one in the back of a Hackney Cab – in England, Scotland and Wales.

And she has faced down a Lefty heckler, while vehemently defending the British Jewish community.

Despite this she is remarkably chipper.

As we set up for the interview, I ask if she is exhausted with all the campaigning – clearly putting my foot in it.

“Do I look tired,” she responds, somewhat concerned.

Taking my foot out of my mouth, I quickly say “no,no,no” – she looks impeccable, for the record.

“I rest at the weekend,” she says, smiling. “But it’s been a really fun campaign. Actually, I’ve been, I’ve been quite pleased.

“You know, people are gee’d up. You get good crowds everywhere that we go. So it’s very different from last year.”

So how does she keep her enthusiasm levels up and recharge on the road?

Aside from meeting “incredible” people, she’s quick to point out that sugary tea plays a big role.

“Strong cups of tea with lots of sugar keep me going,” she says.

What about music, what’s on the Badenoch playlist, I ask, spotting her headphones nearby.

“Lots of Taylor Swift,” she says. “Stay, Stay, Stay, London Boy and the Romeo and Juliet one, Love Story.”

We then begin the interview, rattling through everything from Keir Starmer’s future, to her hopes for her party, the pensions Triple Lock, Brexit and political rivals Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski.

Despite her own rising popularity, Kemi’s reception in this small corner of Greater London was somewhat muted.

Some 30 minutes before her arrival, the small parade of shops was in its mid-morning lull.

A couple of people were having a coffee outside a local cafe while someone was waiting at the bus stop to catch the No.327 back to East Croydon station.

Then there was a hubbub of activity as two-dozen volunteers arrived and were handed placards with key campaign slogans on.

I had a quick chat with local MP, Chris Philp, the shadow Home Secretary, who was helping to marshall the troops.

But it was all very stage-managed, not the Farage or Boris-esque fervour I have witnessed before.

It is local elections, after all.

But as Friday’s results show, the Tory recovery is some way off yet.

After exchanging pleasantries and goodbyes the Tory leader headed off onto her next destination.

Within minutes the area was back to relative peace and quiet again and I jumped on the next 327.