Conservatives in Scotland and Wales should make it their mission to break the stifling consensus in Cardiff and Edinburgh – and embrace cross-border comparisons.
Can they use the results as a springboard for general election success?
Continuing our ConservativeHome series on the key contests in each region or nation.
John Lamont selected to fight Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, as a poll puts Davidson’s team on course to win as many as 12 seats.
It may go horribly wrong. It’s hard, however, to see that she can be blamed for trying.
Plus: The coming local elections. My predictions – Liberal Democrats up, Conservatives up, UKIP down, Labour down – and maybe Corbyn out later this year.
Also: why the Prime Minister is playing for time on a second Scottish independence referendum; and veteran Welsh MP says her support for devolution ‘a mistake’.
Also: Jones calls for grand council to create a federalist vision for Labour, and Government rebuffs Irish leader over Ulster comments.
Also: Davidson bullish as donors step forward to back pro-UK campaign; Plaid suspend AM over bullying claims; and the SNP abandon oil.
Having a second referendum in the middle of the Brexit negotiations would be very difficult, and it will take time to build the next, very different ‘No’ campaign.
Also: Jones wants to turn Britain into a ‘mini-EU’; Ulster goes to the polls tomorrow; and Khan lands himself in hot water with Scottish nationalists.
Also: Tories accused of favouring DUP with Westminster debate; Plaid council faces parent backlash over Welsh-only schooling; and Nesbitt divides UUP by endorsing SDLP.
Also: Sinn Fein tries to win special status for Ulster (by ignoring London); Daisley exposes the SNP’s one-party Scotland; and more.
Also: Rudd and Mundell rule out Scottish exceptions on single market and immigration; Welsh Labour team up with Plaid to fight for status quo; and more.
Any result which sees the election of more than 45 nationalists will raise some awkward questions for May as she forms her new government.