The centre ground. What it means. And what it doesn’t.

It shouldn’t need stating, but clearly does, that the spectrum as we think of it has zero resonance with the public.

Is the Blue Wall around London in danger of cracking?

Local factors? The usual backlash against the party in power? Or a long-term trend away from the Conservatives in some of their heartlands?

Sam Hall: Conservative lessons from Houchen and Street about how to respond to the Greens

By uniting behind Johnson’s plan, and replicating the approach of these two mayors, the the environment can become a winning issue for the party.

Ryan Bourne: How Government is making childcare more expensive

Upper class professionals are imposing their preference for formal settings – bringing the trade-off of higher prices and fewer affordable providers.

English election results live blog wrap-up. Final gains and losses in the local and mayoral contests.

We make it twelve net Conservative council gains, Labour up by three mayoralties…and one LibDem council gain.

Be ready for a general election in the spring of 2023

These elections were very good indeed for the Conservatives – though there are warning signs of a potential Blue Wall effect in the south.

Rachel Wolf: Tests for the delivery of levelling up, and levers with which to deliver it

It now needs to get real. This is clearly the plan in the next few months, starting with the Queen’s Speech tomorrow, leading to the Levelling Up paper. 

Richard Holden: Knightmare on Starmer Street. Labour loses control of Durham – held by the party for a century.

In terms of parliamentary seats, CCHQ now needs to be targeting the North East of England much more broadly for the next election.

The pragmatic, moderate and successful conservatism of Andy Street

He’s proof that your boat can be swept along by the same tide as others, but how you steer it is a matter of individual style.

Live Blog: Scottish and Welsh election results. The SNP fails to win its majority. And Ross holds the Conservative position steady.

The latest results, news and analysis from Holyrood and Cardiff Bay as they come in.

Will Sturgeon “go on and on and on”?

We don’t read her as a quitter. And the next election may come as early as 2023. But if she does step down before it, you read it here first.

Liam Fox: Labour’s choice – adapt or die

It despises the very values of patriotism and economic self-improvement that made people like my grandparents vote for them.

Houchen. He’s patriotic. Even more importantly – he delivers.

Labour isn’t focused on the second, preferring to blame others for problems, and too many of its activists aren’t the first, either.

David Gauke: These results show the Conservatives set for success in the 2020s – unless their opponents can adapt

In England, the Tories have monopolised support on the Right, while the Left vote is split between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.

Iain Dale: Perhaps one day I’ll get involved in an election again. In the meantime, here are my predictions for Super Thursday…

Plus: Starmer needs to bring Cooper and Benn into his top team. But will they even want the jobs?