The strength of the Conservative team, the weakness of the Labour team

The failure of Yvette Cooper and Tristram Hunt in the Commons yesterday was a symptom of a bigger Opposition problem.

Lord Ashcroft: Labour lead by four points in my latest national poll

The Conservatives lead on the economy – but that doesn’t yet necessarily translate into voting for them.

Damian Green MP: The lesson of Newark is Don’t Ape UKIP

For the first time in years, young women with push chairs were happy to stop and talk to someone wearing a blue rosette, and even to take balloons for the children.

The weakness of the Conservative brand v the weakness of Ed Miliband

A lesson of Newark is just how deep-set that last one is among voters.

Iain Dale: My Queen’s Speech. The Liberal Democrats (Abolition of) Bill. The 40p tax threshold up. The Joanna Lumley (Listed status) Bill…

And: Plastic bags. Britain’s arch-nemesis. Norman Tebbit, my hero. Norman Baker, not my hero. Plus: Lutfur Rahman isn’t brave enough to come on my programme.

Pinning Down Miliband: Business policy

It’s predators versus providers in the Labour leader’s world. Question is: who’s who?

Andrew Lilico: What does the Lib Dems being in government mean for minor party votes?

Might the “wasted vote” argument loosen its limiting grip on UKIP and the Greens?

WATCH: A special Nick Clegg double-bill

First he denies that Cable is a plotter, then he tucks into a bacon sandwich…

Hague joins his colleagues in the intensive battle to hold Newark against UKIP

The Conservative Party has flung every minister, MP, candidate, activist and aristocrat it can lay its hands on into this fight.

Lord Ashcroft: Labour’s lead narrows to two points in my weekly poll

They’re down 4 points to 31 per cent. The Tories are steady on 29 per cent. And UKIP are up 3 to 17 per cent.

The Ten Creators of UKIP

From illiberal liberals to the Daily Express, Nigel Farage to David Cameron, here are the factors that delivered UKIP’s success.

Farage casts a big shadow across Westminster. Stepping out from it is Cameron’s new challenge.

Politics is about to become a game of “Do you agree with Nigel?” Sadly, that doesn’t leave much room for optimism.

Lord Ashcroft: We don’t yet know how many people voted UKIP in the European elections – but here’s what they think

I surveyed 4,000 people who took part in the European election. Turns out, two-thirds of UKIP supporters believe Cameron is the best available Prime Minister.

How has Labour performed?

Ed Miliband made more of a mess of the council elections than he made of that bacon sandwich.

Andrew Lilico: I wish that Miliband really was a geek – like me

The word suggests having some special skill at the expense of social ones. But I just don’t know what his is.