Roy Whitehead: The battle for Chelmsford

We are working hard to retain our seats – at a time when outside events are not helping us.

CCHQ accelerates candidate assessments, in an apparently urgent effort to address the shortage

They were caught out in 2017 with too few candidates on the list. Could this sudden urgency be a sign of an election in the offing?

“It’s extraordinarily bad”: Conservative councillors on how the local election campaign is going

From across the country, the mood of those I spoke to varied from highly discouraged to utter despair.

Ian Lewis: The Conservatives are campaigning to stop a Corbynista takeover in Wirral

Only the Conservatives can stop the militants. The Labour Council Leader is stepping down. The Deputy Leader has been deselected.

Nabil Najjar and Alan O’Kelly: London Conservatives need a strong campaign for the Assembly candidates too

Prominence must be given to the whole team. We must take the chance to build up our activist base throughout the capital.

Cleverly calls on unions to take down hugely influential ‘school cuts’ site that uses ‘misleading’ statistics

Campaigners say the site influenced 871,000 voters and prevented a Conservative majority. The Statistics Authority says its calculations are wrong.

WATCH: “The biggest cash boost in the history of the National Health Service” – the latest Conservative broadcast

“Our long-term plan for the NHS will ensure it is spent well, investing in prevention and better treatments for conditions like cancer and diabetes.”

Soutiam Goodarzi: The Conservative Party must up its game online – where its attacks on Labour aren’t working

Stop playing the Left’s game of taking offence and accusing people of -isms and -phobias. Instead, show some character and discuss real issues.

Five crucial implications of Labour’s membership decline

Losing 150,000 members, and the money that comes with them, has knock-on effects for the Opposition and for the Conservative Party.

Theodora Dickinson: The Conservative campaign machine in London is in a dire state

Our capital is an aspirational city where a message of opportunity from our party should cut through. We can win these voters back. We just need to try.

A snap election and a Tory nightmare. Losing seats in London without gaining them elsewhere.

The point here is the electoral trade-off between what could plausibly happen in the capital and the provinces – with Corbyn entering Downing Street in consequence.

Chloe Westley: Ageist abuse – and the bigoted Remain campaigners who rejoice when older voters die

The suffrage movement fought for those of all backgrounds to have the vote. This cannot be called into question for the sake of political gain.

25 questions about (another) early general election – and the horror show it could be for the Conservatives

The more one thinks about it, the more problematic it becomes.

Nick Hargrave: In an age of post-truth politics, moderate politicians must prepare to work across party lines

I have reluctantly concluded that there needs to be greater regulation of the veracity of claims made by registered participants in political campaigns.

Iain Dale: As they prepare to vote next Tuesday, here’s why Conservative MPs should back May’s deal

Plus: Marion Little carries can for CCHQ – and many agents of all parties will think: “there but for the grace of God go I.” And: Am I creepy?