Candidate selection. Why is CCHQ placing so much faith in psychometric testing?

Many leaders will have traits that wouldn’t look good on these sorts of assessments.

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.

Our survey. Conservative activists, the Party and their money. Only half want more control.

Perhaps because the EU membership issue is settled, this generation of activists is less noisy and divided than the last.

Our survey. Seven in ten of our panel believe that money raised by activists shouldn’t help fund the leader’s private costs.

We read this less as a slap across the wrist for the Prime Minister than as an uncompromising statement of principle.

Davis: Conservative Party loans and donations to the Party leader should require approval in advance

We’re told that such approval from the Finance Committee is sought only for donations, not loans – “which don’t count as expenditure”.

Emergency proxies and postal votes: how the Government intends to ensure the local elections go ahead in May

As Wales and Scotland prepare to potentially delay them again, no such provisions are being made for England.

Hannan becomes the Conservative Party’s International Ambassador

As an old European Conservatives and Reformists hand, our columnist has centre-right connections in the EU, Europe, America – and worldwide.

Mak is co-Chair of the new Conservative Party Policy Board

O’Brien has arrived to find the MP for Havant already in place, who though not a former think tank head is no policy slouch.

Profile: Carrie Symonds, experienced Tory adviser turned Prime Ministerial consort – loyal to her friends, detested by her enemies

She may appear to present a softer target than he does, but she has never been afraid of fighting her corner.

Paul Howell: CCHQ North will only work if party members feel real ownership of it

We need a dedicated campaign team, treasurers to build a fighting fund, a mechanism for MPs to feed in ideas – and a Northern Party Board.

Iain Dale: If Milling isn’t up to being Party Chairman, why was she appointed in the first place?

Plus: virtual conferences are the way of the future. America’s vice-presidential debate worked. And: Fox deserved better from his WTO campaign.

WATCH: Milling announces new Party HQ in Leeds

“This new headquarters will provide the Party with a base at the heart of the blue wall. Because we’re in it for the long haul. “

The Conservative Party Conference programme – and which ministers are up and down

It’s speeches for Sunak, Patel and Raab; interviews in different formats for Gove, Hancock and others; while others still are relegated to panels…

Interview: “Petrolhead” Milling denies that Elliot is really in charge at CCHQ, and says that she’s visited all 48 Red Wall seats

The co-Party Chairman says next year’s local elections will definitely go ahead, and won’t give a figure for Party membership.

Dacre, Moore, Neil. Is triple change coming for the BBC?

Dacre has said that he “would die in a ditch defending it as a great civilising force”, and Moore grasps the Corporation’s original Reithian mission.