With a referendum taken decisively off the table, there is now space to really take the fight to the SNP on their domestic record.
The Prime Minister portrayed himself as a sane, sober, consensual person who is hard at work improving people’s lives.
The Prime Minister has no way of even trying to ensure the dispute is over by April except capitulating to the EU.
Also: having missed his self-imposed deadline of October 28th, Heaton-Harris changes the law to push Stormont vote back to April.
Why has neither he nor Heaton-Harris pushed back against Sinn Fein’s nonsensical claims about ‘joint authority’ with Dublin?
The new Prime Minister baffled the Opposition by mixing high-minded friendliness with low blows.
Also: Heaton-Harris holds firm on threat of fresh Stormont elections, but DUP insist they won’t restore power-sharing without movement on the Protocol.
Also: the ERG fire a shot across the Government’s bows following press speculation that ministers could fold on ECJ oversight in Northern Ireland.
Even now, the SNP can’t get the voters to the point of backing the break-up of the UK – and a Labour government wouldn’t make it any easier.
Cutting the 45p rate puts fresh pressure on the SNP’s revenue-hostile policies; spending cuts will squeeze their budgets again.
Separatists from different wings of the movement are increasingly united in scepticism towards Nicola Sturgeon’s new strategy.
The First Minister hides behind the Supreme Court to avoid an unofficial referendum, but then plans to use an election as a ‘proxy’.
Also: the DUP can be forgiven for being sceptical that the Government will deliver on its Protocol promises.
If the policy was having its desired effect, you’d expect to see a drop in alcohol-related harms. Instead, you see no such thing.
The fourth of a series of five articles on ConservativeHome this week about the main challenges that await the new Prime Minister.