Election Battlegrounds 4) East of England
Onwards to Anglia, where the Liberal Democrats and Tories will be fighting hard over a small clutch of possible gains.
East Staffs council leader alleges Party Board appointee’s oversight of Griffiths ballot is “unfair and prejudicial”
Cllr Duncan Goodfellow complains Lord Hunt’s message to the association “could be seen as seeking to fetter the independent and impartial decision of members”.
Monday’s candidate selection shortlists: Arundel and South Downs; North Devon; Wantage; North West Norfolk
Plus two selection contests in Meon Valley, and Runnymede and Weybridge.
New: The shortlist for Newbury, and the run-down of the weekend’s selection races
There are at least 14 contests taking place over the weekend in Conservative-held seats.
The Election Battlegrounds 3) North West
Our series continues with a look at another key region, which offers a decent clutch of targets to either Labour or the Conservatives on a good night.
New candidate shortlists for Tory-held seats: Orpington; Bracknell; South West Hertfordshire; and Mid Sussex
Army officers, political advisers, businesspeople, a London Assembly Member and – unusually – a sitting MP are among the latest crop of finalists.
New: Shortlists for candidate selections in Guildford; North East Bedfordshire; and Eastleigh
Of the nine Conservative-held seats selecting tonight, we have now revealed six shortlists.
New: Candidate shortlists for Milton Keynes North; Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner; and Eddisbury
Two former MPs are among the candidates pursuing these three Conservative-held seats.
Bhatti selected in Meriden; Lumsden selected in Aberdeen South
Nick Timothy was unsuccessful in his bid to succeed Caroline Spelman.
Welsh secretary resigns in row over aide’s role in rape trial
The Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, has today resigned after claims he knew about his former aide’s alleged role in “sabotaging” a rape trial.
The Election Battlegrounds 2) West Midlands
Our region-by-region survey of possible key seats continues with a look at what is shaping up to be one of the key head-to-head confrontations between the Tories and Labour.
Selection update: CCHQ culls the Devizes shortlist to three. Plus: the finalists for Broadland.
Three candidates lose out as the Party fights back in the tug of war between the centre and local associations.
“I remain a Conservative.” Hammond on why he is leaving the Commons – rather than standing as an independent
“I cannot embark on a course of action that would represent a direct challenge in a general election to the party I have supported all my adult life.”
“A massive bias of understanding of the types of English seats the Tories are likely to lose.” Kanagasooriam on the coming election.
We reproduce a Twitter thread from the man who helped to advise Ruth Davidson on how to win in Scotland.
Election of Speaker, Third Round. Bryant will take the contest all the way to a fourth ballot.
But Laing’s 127 votes have to divide roughly five to one if he is to beat Hoyle – who therefore remains favourite.