Selection news: Peterborough shortlist revealed, and the first London seats open for candidate applications

Plus: the postponed selection processes in Darlington and Wirral West have been restarted. And: Ryan Henson selected in Bedford.

A candidate shortage strikes Conservative target seats

Numbers applying for target seats are down across the board. At least one Tory association has refused to shortlist, and demanded applications be reopened.

Hamish McFall: CCHQ’s inquisitorial approach to council candidates risks deterring good people

Sitting councillors and aspirant candidates alike have been irritated and offended by the new process.

Iain Dale: Oh, I do want the Conservative conference to be beside the seaside

The excuse is always that there aren’t enough beds in other places. How come Labour goes to Brighton, then?

The Minister who only just became a Conservative

The legacy of past disorganisation in our Party’s machine even affects those at the top.

Tim Bale: How the Conservatives can turn new members into activists

A national membership system is a good start, but it must be accompanied by pro-active engagement from local associations.

Priti Patel: It’s time to elect the Party Chairman – and put our members back in charge of the Conservatives

Over the last decade our activists, supporters and members have become a distant feature of an increasing centralised Party machine – remote, distant and out of touch.

Selection news: Shortlists revealed for Ipswich, and Warwick & Leamington

Several ConservativeHome contributors are among those who have made the final round in the two target seats

The Moggcast. Burt and Duncan’s “absurd” attacks on Johnson “must have been” approved by Downing Street.

Inside the ERG’s Brexit plans. Why Rees-Mogg doesn’t believe the hype about ‘Blue Wave’ entryism. Plus: how he spent his summer.

Line Kristensen: To win next time, the Conservative Party must make recruiting and training activists its priority

A focused and accountable drive to build the grassroots is required. It can be done, but it requires difficult questions and honest answers.

In Northern Ireland, the Tories are quietly blocking membership applications

A former UKIP candidate has been rejected by the Mid-Ulster Conservatives. Why?

Recruiters of new Tory members. There is a third actor – CCHQ itself.

It has not automatically turned away previous UKIPers. Lewis’ local Association has absorbed seven former purple councillors.

The Conservative infiltration debate is all the wrong way round

The Party’s main problem isn’t having too many applicant members – it’s having too few present ones.

Ryan Jacobsz: To win the next election, the Conservatives must make better use of their activists

CCHQ needs to make our troops recognise that local elections are vital staging posts for Westminster campaigns, and need to be fought just as hard.

Suzy Davies: The Welsh Conservatives need to make much better use to our members

Treating our activists as leaflet fodder isn’t good enough. They’re a wellspring of new policy ideas and a bridge to parts of the electorate we have struggled to connect with.