Davidson’s successors must not let recognition of her extraordinary achievements to turn into counter-productive myth-making and a counsel of despair.
Labour politicians pandering to nationalist sentiment, and Remainers colluding with separatists in Parliament, are a clear and present danger.
Increasing, training, and valuing our membership is absolutely crucial to building the first-rate campaigning machine we need.
Just as with Leave voters, another big swath of the electorate might be abandoned to Ruth Davidson as her rivals focus elsewhere.
Divisions between London and Edinburgh are being overplayed – the Scottish leadership will not want an early election.
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: Davies defends Welsh devo-sceptics; Tory peer spearheads bid for gay marriage in Ulster; Davidson attacks SNP’s policy vacuum; and Foster comes out swinging for Brexit.
The Nationalists can only hold their activists back and coalition together for so long, but with no surge in support a second independence referendum is a serious risk.
Also: Welsh Conservatives lack ‘appetite’ for leadership change; a bad night for nationalism in Northern Ireland, Neil Hamilton wins leadership of UKIP AMs; and more.
Our strategy was crucial to success. But last Thursday was just the beginning.
Last Thursday’s elections were almost unique in my adult political lifetime.
Twelve SNP-held seats could provide the next few stages of Ruth Davidson’s long march.
It may be almost impossible for Labour to win the next election, but it will be very easy for us to lose it. We must not rest on our laurels.
As the counts continue, we offer news and analysis on the various elections taking place.
She overhauls Labour to lead the official opposition. And Sturgeon’s failure to win a majority is a blow to SNP plans for a second referendum on Scottish independence.