Henry Hill: As the Scottish Government digs in, calls grow for a judge-led inquiry into the Salmond scandal

Also: Downing Street shakes up the Union Unit as it goes on the attack over the SNP’s botched handling of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Securing the Majority? 3) A Department for the Union

After the election, we suggested five ways of securing the Party’s electoral position. Eight months on, how is the Government doing?

The Union with Scotland is neither as weak nor as strong as it looks

That Johnson’s recent visit was reported as though he were a Governor-General of Imperial India touring the North-West frontier is a bad sign.

Henry Hill: Reserving control of ‘level playing field’ provisions to Westminster should be just the first step

The May Government set a time-bomb under the Union when it agreed to the mass devolution of ex-EU powers. Ministers must think again.

Henry Hill: Davies pivots in a devosceptic direction as he ‘relaunches’ his leadership

Also: Gove warns the Electoral Commission not to ‘waste time’ on SNP demands; Scottish Nationalists showing the strain as problems mount; and more.

Lee Scott back for Ilford North. Vicky Ford in final Chelmsford three. Tatton finalists named. The latest candidate selections and shortlists.

Plus: shortlists for Middlesbrough South and Wakefield; and, new selections and nominations in key target seats across the country.