May must strike the right balance between breaking the Party through into new areas and voter groups, and winning a mandate for effective government.
We open a ConservativeHome series, which will run each Monday during the election campaign, on the key contests in each region
They could even tie with Labour. If they build in their 2015 success (and learn from their 2016 disappointment) more seats are definitely within reach.
The DUP, UUP, and SDLP all have seats they could lose in the right circumstances. Sinn Fein probably don’t.
It may go horribly wrong. It’s hard, however, to see that she can be blamed for trying.
Also: Brokenshire sets Good Friday deadline for talks as UUP elect new leader; and Welsh Tories regain second place as Reckless ‘re-rats’ from UKIP.
The halcyon days of Charles Kennedy’s leadership offer a clear temptation to revert to the party’s old opportunist ways. Will their new, more governmental habits stick?
Cameron’s decision to leave the federalist, centre-right bloc was bewailed by Remainers. How do they feel about its call for a continent-wide ban on veils?
Protectionism and isolationism don’t allow the President to cut a grand figure on the world stage. Could he ever really have stood for that?
Single Market access? Immigration controls? Budget contributions? Escaping the ECJ? The status of EU nationals?
Also: Brokenshire insists restoring Ulster devolution remains the focus; Sturgeon may try to defy May over a referendum; and why not make Gibraltar actually British?
The Government’s opponents face a choice between cobbling together a rearguard vehicle for the negotiations or adapting to what comes next.
Also: why the Prime Minister is playing for time on a second Scottish independence referendum; and veteran Welsh MP says her support for devolution ‘a mistake’.
She argues that overseas aid is a prime example of how a united, global Britain is a force for good.