Poots and Faulkner

Unlike the former Ulster Unionist leader, the new DUP one is set to stick with his voter and party base. But you never know.

The socially distanced and politically distanced Queen’s Speech

Some good things, a few bad ones, some absences – and an opportunity missed not so much to level up Britain as to level with voters.

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.

WATCH: Queen’s Speech 1) Johnson – Talent is evenly spread but opportunity is not. “We mean to change that.”

“It is not just a moral and a social disgrace – it’s an economic mistake. It’s a criminal waste of talent.”

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.

WATCH: The SNP’s deputy leader: “in the event that Johnson tries to do a Trump… I believe the referendum will still happen”

Brown warns the PM that using “the legal process to subvert Scottish democracy” won’t work.

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.

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.

WATCH: We need to go from “jabs, jabs, jabs to jobs, jobs, jobs”, says Johnson in Hartlepool

The election has shown “people want a party and government that is focussed on them”, the Prime Minister tells Sky News.

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.

In Bloxwich, Street is buffeted by a storm. But he sounds like a man who has the wind in his sails.

But he looks to be a stronger candidate than he did four years ago, when he first stood to be West Midlands Mayor.

Our survey. A majority believes that Cummings was an asset to the Party – but doesn’t regret his departure

Roughly 70 per cent hold both views – a measure of their high view of Cummings’ abilities…and their ultimate loyalty to the Prime Minister.

Robert Buckland: More prison places, a domestic abuse bill, tougher sentences. How we’re acting on the people’s priorities.

We controlled Covid in our prisons, kept the courts running throughout lockdown, and were the first in the western world to resume jury trials.