Carol Matthews: We need fairer investment and supply to level up housing in the North

In the second piece in our mini-series, the Chair of Homes for the North argues that driving public investment in housing towards the South East is not sustainable.

Neil O’Brien: R & D. We invest disproportionately in the first at the expense of the second. Here’s how to improve.

This imbalance is driven by the core science budget: the Research Councils (which fund projects) and Quality Related “QR” funding, which universities allocate.

The election in which the Conservatives finally waved farewell to Thatcher’s ghost

Johnson is a self-described “Brexity Hezza” and now has the chance to mould a Party and country in his own romantic image.

Mark Francois: I urge Leavers to vote Tory – so gaining Brexit, preparing for free trade and smashing Marxism. All at once.

We now have the most amazing opportunity to deliver an emphatic victory over Corbyn’s extremists – and achieve Brexit into the bargain.

Johnson’s campaign stops suggest CCHQ is not betting the House on a landslide yet

In 2017 the Party remained inflexibly committed to an excessively aggressive campaign. CCHQ has learned lessons, but must not fight the last war.

Andrew Smith: The next Conservative Government can deliver for the North by investing in regeneration.

I hope that we will see more of the Chancellor during the campaign explaining how his plans can help support investment to boost productivity.

Election Battlegrounds 5) The North East

This region contains a string of those ‘Labour Leave’ seats which are central to the Tory strategy – but will the Brexit Party trip them up?

Dean Godson: There are plenty of ideas on the centre-right. Here’s how it can create a new, decent, patriotric consensus.

Despite polarisation on Brexit, there is more agreement among voters than often appears – and therefore more cause for optimism.

Alison Wolf: The Augar Review takes productivity, Industrial Strategy and skills seriously. Will the new Prime Minister listen?

Universities have generally had an excellent decade, but the rest of the system has not. It’s time to correct the imbalance.

The Brexit Party wins the Euro-elections. The Liberal Democrats are second. Disaster for the two main parties.

The Conservatives are down to four MEPs: Hannan, McIntyre, Mobarik, and Van Orden.

The local elections revisited: an analysis of results in the North East

Labour losses was the big story here. Many working class voters switched to backing independents, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats also gaining.

The local election aftermath. May and Corbyn are like two spooked children, drawing nearer for comfort as the thunder rages.

Will they now seek to appease turbulent voters by rushing her-deal-plus-the-Customs-Union through the Commons?

Richard Wearmouth: Labour’s hard left mayoral candidate is a threat to the North East

Voters in Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland should choose a Conservative – to bring new investment to the region.

Will Tanner: The Budget choice on ending austerity. Raise taxes – or ease up on deficit reduction.

In the final article of our mini-series, the Onward Director says that there must also be a new strategy to help boost Britain’s productivity rate.

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).