Henry Hill: Sturgeon abandons her flagship schools pledge as she touts separation in the US

Also: dissent in the ranks! Northern Irish activists attack neglect by CCHQ amidst rumours Welsh Tories may seek split.

Live Blog: With most councils declared, Welsh Tory losses exceed those in Scotland

Meanwhile observers are already speculating about whether today’s performance will cost Douglas Ross his job.

Henry Hill: As voters go to the polls in Northern Ireland, the DUP is fighting for second

Also: it looks like it will be a good day for Labour in both Wales and Scotland as Douglas Ross struggles to make headway.

Sam Rowlands: Welsh local councils need change, and only the Conservatives can deliver it

Local communities have been held back by Labour’s high council tax rates and poor funding. The current settlement is not fit for purpose.

Richard John: Monmouthshire is leading the way in delivering high quality public services

As the UK’s only Conservative Council outside of England, we have a dynamic team that champions innovation.

Henry Hill: Energy policy is reserved for a reason, and the SNP should not be able to block new nuclear power plants

With traditional cluelessness, Westminster devolved planning policy without a carve-out for vital national infrastructure projects.

Peter Fox: Welsh Labour’s spanner in the country’s economy should be wrenched out

We have all the ingredients of being a great country – inside our cherished United Kingdom – but we’re currently rudderless.

Henry Hill: Johnson talks tough on the Protocol, but does he mean it?

Also: devolved administrations cling tight to Covid powers; Lewis raises prospect of prosecuting terrorists; SNP retreat from pension lie.

Does England really need more mayors?

The Government could end up with a series of Burnhams and Khans, constantly trying to undermine it.

Matthew Evans: Labour is in retreat in Newport

I sincerely hope our city can release itself from the shackles of socialism- which still hold back its potential.  

Henry Hill: Why does Truss say there is a ‘deal to be done’ on the Protocol? The fundamentals are unchanged

Also: Delaying Johnson’s defenestration is not worth the price of heavy local election losses in Wales and Scotland.

Why pressure on the Prime Minister to quit after the local elections may be less than some suppose

Most Tory MPs either have no elections in their seats or only for a minority of their councillors, often in a minority of wards.

David Gauke: Conservative Party members should have no say in the election of its next leader

MPs are better placed to understand public opinion. After all, they depend upon it to be re-elected.

It’s a mistake to compare the UK’s four Coronavirus rates. As Drakeford has found out.

Geographical and demographic differences make it impossible to decide who ‘won’ the battle with Coronavirus.

WATCH: Drakeford – ‘Comparing the whole of Wales and the whole of England’ on Covid rates is misleading

‘I think they have not done what the science would’ve told them they should do’, he adds about the UK government.