The main party leaders have a lot riding on next Thursday's local elections.
Until the shock defection of Tory MP Dan Poulter to Labour, Rishi Sunak had enjoyed that rarest of things: a good week.
Over the past seven days, the prime minister has seen his flagship, long-delayed Safety of Rwanda Bill make it onto the statute books.
The bullish PM said that would see deportation flights to Africa finally get off the ground in the next 10 to 12 weeks and, ultimately, provide enough...