Local elections showed Reform UK is not as popular as opinion polls suggest
Labour support was spread widely but Downing Street grasps national projection of 7-point gap as cause for hope
An insider’s guide to the key battlegrounds
Results in England and Wales will establish mood for upcoming national poll
Ed Davey’s official election campaign will target a handful of seats where uniting an anti-Tory majority could benefit party
Nick Clegg’s performances in the televised debates helped the party limit its losses
FT polling analysis shows there is almost no way for Conservative party to remain in power
Party to target disgruntled older voters in Tory strongholds after poor electoral results over past decade
Sir Ed Davey tells the FT he is expecting to make gains in the ruling Conservative party’s traditional strongholds
PM eschews any big-picture presentations while his opponents try to add detail to campaign plans
Leader Ed Davey concedes attempt likely to fail as he kickstarts months of campaigning ahead of national vote later this year
Research shows more than 2mn in London and the South East will be pushed into higher tax bracket because of threshold freeze
Voters will notice that the Lib Dems exist, while Labour must defend against Tory attacks over tax-and-spend
Britain’s third party war-games a range of scenarios as it prepares for the upcoming general election
The FT's Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green trace out the political landscape
Bookies think the Conservatives could scrape home in former safe seat of Mid Bedfordshire
Also in this newsletter: how inflation is flattering UK trade figures
Bruised leader Ed Davey tells personal tale in conference speech, while in US Braverman winks to Tory right flank
Ed Davey proposes legal right for patients to start medical care within 62 days of urgent referral in highly personal conference speech
Also in this newsletter, what this means for the future of a Labour-Liberal Democrat arrangement, and Sunak’s possible inheritance tax overhaul
Ed Davey’s party accused of watering down policies to pander to Conservative voters
Funding comes as party targets rural Conservative seats in next year’s polls
Also in this newsletter, controversy after Chris Kaba shooting investigation has provoked questionable responses from Scotland Yard and Home Office
Conservatives handed potential lifeline in Mid Bedfordshire following the resignation of Nadine Dorries
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