Sunak’s Deputy Chief of Staff and founder of centrist Tory think tank Onward Will Tanner bagged a rare Tory safe seat, parachuted into Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket a few weeks ago. Though it appears it’s not going to be the slam-dunk he though it’d be…

Local Tories were furious over Tanner – a prominent Remainer – being selected in the Brexit backing seat, citing dirty tricks from CCHQ and blasting the “fait accompli”. Now it’s coming back to bite him. Guido hears that at a hustings Tanner got booed when he started on about national service, and the Reform candidate threw a copy of the Onward national service policy paper at him. Meanwhile, Tanner’s been messaging Tory activists over fears he may lose the usually safe seat, saying a fresh poll out today puts him behind Labour. Onward and downward…