JK Rowling has praised Kemi Badenoch’s “brains and bravery” in standing up for women’s rights after she was unveiled as the new Conservative leader.

The Harry Potter author and Mrs Badenoch have both vocally opposed gender ideology, with the latter insisting during her Tory leadership campaign that a child cannot be trans.

Ms Rowling has voted Labour in the past but is a staunch critic of Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him and his party of “abandoning” gender-critical women like herself.

Responding to a suggestion that she would be “mad” about the result, Ms Rowling said on X: “On the contrary, I’m delighted a woman who’ll stand up for sex-based rights is now leading the opposition.

“And while there are definitely things we disagree about politically, I admire her brains and her bravery.”