Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch insisted she is on course to become Prime Minister, saying “people have always underestimated me”. She shrugged off dire poll ratings and reports of potential leadership challenges, insisting she will not be rushed into announcing policies to boost poll numbers.

Speaking to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Mrs Badenoch said: “It’s going to take some time because we just lost an election. The public don’t come back to the Opposition straight away – the Government are doing so badly that people are going to protest parties.”

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Pressed on whether the rebuilding process would take two years, she said: “I can’t say how long that’s going to take. I need to use this time as wisely as possible.”

Mrs Badenoch said she had deliberately avoided reacting to political setbacks with headline-grabbing announcements.

“I could have come rushing out with policies to chase the polls but that’s the wrong thing to do,” she said.

“We need to start delivering a proposition that’s going to change the country for the better.”

And she attacked Reform leader Nigel Farage, following polls showing Reform currently has the support of more voters than any other party.

She said his rise would be “very bad for this country”.

The Tory leader, speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News, said: “Nigel Farage is someone who is going to say whatever he wants in order to get into power. I am taking the hard road – I’m not going to do that.”

Ms Badenoch suggested the Reform UK leader risked repeating the same mistakes she accused Labour of making.

“He’s making the same mistake that Keir Starmer made of making promises, and then they’ll get into government and can’t deliver it,” she said.

Asked if Mr Farage could actually get into power, she replied: “I hope not – it would be very bad for this country.”

“What I’m working on right now is to make sure that I get into power – that means rebuilding trust with the public and showing the alternative to a Labour Government that is damaging the economy.”