Candidate applications open for next target seats: Bedford and Ipswich

There are early signs of a common profile of the seats chosen as targets.

Exclusive: Conservative candidate selections open for first tranche of target seats

Applications are now open for Stroud, Warwick & Leamington, Oxford West & Abingdon, and Crewe & Nantwich.

Exclusive: The Conservative London mayoral candidate selection will open in June

The candidate will be selected before the Party conference in September.

Interview: Lewis -“At conference this year, I and the Prime Minister are determined that the members feel it is their conference.”

The Party Chairman intends to remove from the candidates’ list those who failed to campaign in the local elections.

The Conservatives are contesting all but 13 of the 4,413 local election races – more than Labour

Full slates of Tory candidates have been achieved in the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, South West and London (the first time in the capital since 1986).

Nicky Morgan: A stark truth. We’re not doing well enough among women. Here’s how we can do better.

Unless we find a way to win over those in their forties, thirties and younger, we will have an even bigger problem at the next election.

Exclusive: Last-ditch appeal for council candidates sent out to Welsh Tories: “Do you know anybody…in Manchester and Knowsley”?

In the latest sign of serious difficulties putting up full slates in some areas, an eleventh-hour email was sent out to members across Wales yesterday.

Kemi Badenoch: My plan for candidates – a transparent, democratic process, for an even stronger Party

Also, a balanced Parliamentary Party requires a diverse pipeline of candidates – this means diversity of background and thought.

Mark Harper: We still have work to do to get more Conservative women elected to Parliament

Addressing this persistent under-representation is not political correctness, it is political common sense. Our Party would be the better for it. 

Rob Semple: A progress report on changes to the Party’s constitution

There will be no proposals to change the right of members to select their Parliamentary candidates, and the suggestion that anyone would seek to remove Associations from our organisation is clear fantasy.

Road to Parliament 3) Gillian Keegan: An apprenticeship gave me my start in business, so I designed one for entering politics

The third article in our new mini-series, in which female Conservative MPs share the stories of their journeys into politics, comes from the MP for Chichester.

Road to Parliament 2) Anne Milton. I wanted to show that people like me could make it – and help improve Britain.

The second article in our new mini-series, in which female Conservative MPs share the stories of their journeys into politics, comes from the MP for Guildford.

Road to Parliament 1) Trudy Harrison: My journey from village activist to MP taught me that stepping forward can make a difference

The first article in our new mini-series, in which female Conservative MPs share the stories of their journeys into politics, comes from the MP for Copeland.

Edward Nyman: A five-point plan for engaging young British voters

We must find our identity in modern Britain; break away from obstructive stereotypes; source authentic leaders who connect with voters; become the party of opportunity; and never style ourselves as an alternative to “chaos”.

Exclusive: Proposed changes on associations and candidate selection are being “revised” in the face of strong opposition

Since ConservativeHome revealed the planned changes in November, concern has been growing among MPs and Party members.