The first official week of the Conservatives’ election campaign did not go as many inside CCHQ had hoped. A cabinet minister resigned, a row erupted over insensitive Tory comments on the Grenfell fire and a candidate stepped down over previous comments on rape. Despite this, the Conservatives end the week with a sense of cautious optimism about the next month. Tory MPs believe that Johnson steadied the ship on Wednesday evening with the party’s official launch event in the Midlands. ‘That calmed nerves,’ says a member of government. ‘Boris on form cheers up activists and candidates.’
The Tories continue to hold a comfortable lead in the polls – and with parliament dissolved, they can now focus their efforts entirely on campaigning. Key players assembled at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in Westminster on Wednesday after parliament had dissolved. At the centre of the room lies the election pod.
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