Houchen. He’s patriotic. Even more importantly – he delivers.

Labour isn’t focused on the second, preferring to blame others for problems, and too many of its activists aren’t the first, either.

Richard Holden: Levelling up – 70 years late. The 1950s Labour plan that didn’t deliver improvements we’re campaigning for now.

To my astonishment, the Toft Hill Bypass is there on page 134c – undelivered during over half a century of local Labour dominance.

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?

Battleground Seats 10) North East

Continuing our ConservativeHome series on the key contests in each region or nation.

Exclusive: We bust the Party ban on making known the names on the Hitchin and Harpenden shortlist. The latest selections news.

Plus: Eleven candidates selected elsewhere, including Gillian Keegan in Chichester and Kemi Badenoch in Saffron Walden.

Exclusive: Shortlist for Southampton Test tonight. Candidate imposed in Bridgend.

Plus the details of other seats selecting this evening.

Selection Big Bang: 44 seats open applications for would-be candidates

ConHome pressed for more seats to select sooner – it seems CCHQ has listened.