Darren Grimes: The frustration, bafflement and despair that the lockdown is forcing on my family and friends in the North-East

It is much more than its main urban areas. So the restrictions feel really unfair to some – such as those I know in County Durham.

Iain Dale: If you’re coming to a hustings I’m chairing, draft an original question – and I’ll try to call you.

Plus: How I was booed in Birmingham. On to Nottingham…via Exeter. And: who would I vote for, if I had a vote?

Damian Flanagan: What drives the Conservatives’ underlying problems? For answers, ponder our exile from the cities of the north.

The Party cannot be one of the South and of the countryside if it is to engage with voters – and to win.

Neva Sadikoglu-Novaky and Jonathan Werran: Brexit gives the chance to have full fiscal devolution. Let’s take it.

Through tax competition, we could truly have a real Northern Powerhouse and give cities in the north a fairer chance against London and the south east.

Rupert Barnes: Let’s do more to celebrate our historic counties

Remember where we are; remember what has come down to us. Our unique heritage is there to be opened up.

In the elections for the “metropolitan boroughs” the Conservatives have little to lose – which is why the focus will be on Trafford

The second part of our series this week on May’s elections, moving on to the metropolitan areas that are electing in thirds.

Anna Round: If Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse is to work, it needs devolved education and skills – not just infrastructure

Nicky Morgan’s department is the untouched by devolution – yet it can make the biggest difference in creating the Northern Powerhouse,