Nickie Aiken: The Conservatives can start winning in London again

While Londoners want action, the Labour Mayor offers excuses. Shaun Bailey will offer a credible challenge.

Chloe Westley: The pernicious, corrosive poison of gossip in politics – and how it blights women especially

We’re judged not only on what we do and say, but often also on our relationships (or lack thereof!), our hair, our weight, the clothes we wear, and so on.

Terror and Westminster. There is no way of designing out risk.

It cannot be eliminated altogether – at least without placing a steel curtain between Parliament and the people.

Brandon Lewis: Thank you, Conservative members. Because of you, we did well in these elections. But this is just the start.

I want to commend every single one of you that stood for council or campaigned in any way in this poll.

Local elections: We said there wouldn’t be a Tory meltdown – and there wasn’t

The results were a triumph of localism which confounded the pundits. But achieving wider home ownership is still a particular challenge in London.

Low expectations could make the local election results seem like a Conservative triumph

UKIP’s decline will probably allow the three main parties to each claim an increased vote share. Afterwards, the Tories will still be the largest party in local government.

The local election results in London will provide a mixed picture

Pundits are expecting a drubbing for the Conservatives in the capital. But some boroughs will buck the trend. I predict unpredictability.

Liam Booth-Smith: Westminster Council’s voluntary levy on the wealthy is to be applauded

Conservatives should restate the moral case for taxation and at the same time find innovative ways of revenue raising that are both popular and effective.

Oliver Cooper: The claim that rich foreigners are driving up house prices is a myth

Just 0.6 per cent of London homes – and 0.8 per cent nationally – are vacant for more than six months. That’s down hugely in recent years.

George Trefgarne: The Conservatives must stop indulging in class warfare

Embracing this crude Marxist fiction has put the Conservative Party at risk of lasting electoral damage, particularly in London.

Jonathan Glanz: Bringing the “sharing economy” within the law

We need to safeguard local residents and and traditional businesses.

Iain Duncan Smith: We must face hard truths about homegrown extremism

This problem may have started abroad, but it is now here, in our own society. It must be dealt with.

Tina Stowell: The question that voters are asking in this election is – who’s with us, and who’s against us?

Last June’s Brexit vote had less to do with EU membership than a wider discontent with how Britain is governed.

Our local tri-borough arrangement is to end next year

Hammersmith and Fulham Council have scuppered an arrangement which saved money for it – as well as Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.

Iain Dale: In which Tim Shipman and I fight off Chinese spies

Plus: Dealing with news of terror attacks as a radio host. Was it really necessary to send Steve Uncles to prison. And: Jacqui Smith and Sky – its goodbye from me and its goodbye from her.