Japan poised to get first female PM after Sanae Takaichi wins ruling party leadership

Margaret Thatcher admirer beat her more moderate rival to become leader of Liberal Democratic party

Japan is poised to get its first female prime minister after Sanae Takaichi was elected as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic party (LDP) - a victory that should lead to her being installed as the country's new leader in the middle of the month.

Takaichi, a rightwing politician who has voiced admiration for Margaret Thatcher in her quest to build a strong and prosperous" Japan on the international stage, beat her moderate rival, Shinjiro Koizumi, in a runoff election at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday.