This is the battle raging on the Tory right now - some opting for Reform. Others, like former Treasurer Lord Cruddas of Shoreditch think a lot of Tory MPs should leave and join a more left wing party.

Sunak’s authority constantly being challenged.

conservativepost.co.uk/the-problem-wi…

A big call, this.

Isn’t this losing the whip territory? Sailing close to the wind…

Spoiler - Sadiq Khan will almost certainly win again.

So why does he claim to be in a fight?

Why have some questioned his tactics?

And despite the polls, why do some believe this is the last London contest he can win?

Our deep dive into the London:
theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

I’m not saying Jeremy Hunt is in trouble in Godalming at the election, but he’s just tweeted that he accepts £100k is “not a huge salary in our area” and suggests help on childcare after the election. 👀

West Yorkshire police investigation into Frank Hester's comments about Diane Abbott.

Appeal for information here:

The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), Frank Hester's company, has earned more than £461m from the public sector since 2016, according to Tussell.

Department for Health and Social Care spent >£270m.

123 depts, NHS trusts, ICBs & LAs have spent money with TPP since 2016.

One of those things where I had to double check it was true. The new 'authentic' England shirt. Yours for... £124.99?!

In December, The Observer reported on growing private equity ownership of children’s homes.

It isn't the case they always provide poor care, but this is an example where it did. Rats. Faulty hot water. Locked doors. Now closed.

Owned by Graphite Capital.

h/t Martin Barrow

Michael Savage Also, they can afford to eat the cost of cancelling more than Labour can.

The moment someone pointed out what a disaster Tory conferences have been recently, I instantly switched to October (from November) as my best bet on the election date.

Repeat after me: another conference is not a plus for the Tories at present.

As UK inflation falls to 3.4% in February, a reminder that the cost of living is way up in recent years.

Our The Observer piece with CitizensAdvice from the weekend on the growing issue of 'negative budgets':

theguardian.com/money/2024/mar…

Another interesting nugget on Labour's preps for power - lots of informal dinners going on now, chaired by former Blair adviser Sally Morgan.

There's terror of complacency in Labour's high command, but also many discussions on the realities of governing.

theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

“Our advice can be life-changing, but our advisers can’t tackle the scale of this challenge alone. Falling inflation doesn’t mean the problem is over.” Great write up by Michael Savage on how the upcoming election will be defined by living standards and the cost of living 👇🏻

NEW: Inflation may be down, but the cost of living is way up over recent years - & it will still play a huge role at the election.

'Negative budgets' have a become a big deal in many key constituencies.

Our analysis with CitizensAdvice here:

theguardian.com/money/2024/mar…

To hammer home just how hard the local elections will be for Sunak, here's a front page from the last time many of these seats came up.

It was peak 'vaccine bounce'. Starmer was on the verge of quitting after losing Hartlepool.

That is where the Tories are falling from in May.

NEW: Labour have restored the whip to Andy McDonald, after removing it following ‘deeply offensive’ remarks he made at a Pro-Palestine rally.

Labour spox: 'The investigation concluded that he had not engaged in conduct that was against the party's rulebook”.