Iain Dale: Until Labour stops telling voters they’re wrong, racist, or stupid, it will continue to decline
Plus: Preparation for interviews about Israel and Palestine – well, I don’t call it preparation: I call it avoiding making a tit of yourself.
Columnists
Henry Hill: Last week, Ross secured his ‘Unionist’ base. The next task: selling Scots on the ‘Conservative’ bit.
Has the party secured a base it can build on in a less polarised politics? Or is it merely propped up on borrowed pro-UK votes?
Garvan Walshe: After a year of lockdown, Madrid’s voters aren’t the only ones who want freedom
People need to feel in control of their lives and communities again, and this need is now at its strongest after a year of repression and enforced passivity.
Daniel Hannan: Super Thursday’s results weren’t a victory for conservatism, but for our leader: Brexity Jezza
With economics, sleaze and environmentalism off the table, Labour is only left with the culture wars to fight the Tories on.
Radical: The criminal justice system has been captured by gender-identity ideology
Recent guidance from the Judicial College goes far beyond appropriate and reasonable steps to ensure that transgender individuals are treated fairly.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Henry Hill: Fury as Scottish Tories suggest SNP majority is a ‘guarantee’ of another referendum
The Nationalists themselves are doing everything they can to minimise their central policy. All the materials for denying their mandate are there.
Stephen Booth: Previous governments under-delivered on improving relations with India. Here’s why this time it may be different.
Faced with the challenge of China’s rise, India is seeking deeper relationships with like-minded democracies.
Robert Halfon: A local Labour candidate has organised a petition against an army cadet course. Not quite the people’s priorities.
Plus: Is it really a bad thing if more work from home? And: It’s time to acknowledge private workers’ contributions in the Covid crisis.
Emily Carver: To bolster free speech in universities, we need laws taken off the statute book, rather than added to it
The Government should instead look into reviewing the Equality Act, which makes these institutions subject to its harassment provision.
Andy Street: I’ve got a clear plan for the West Midlands, and I’m ready to go. Here’s what I’ll do in my first 100 days if re-elected.
I’ll get back to work the moment the election result is announced.