special advisor and people present at downing street. the christmas break coming up, chance to take a breath, but this is a punch in the gut for the conservative party. you are a former special advisor. what would your special advice be to the party if you were still in the party if you were still in the job? i think taking stock, listen to what the people have said at this by election. it very much seems to me a big protest vote, notjust on local issues, which clearly are important, around the nhs and around infrastructure, and also around the big national issues and a series of unforced errors and mishaps in the way things are handled and the way things are communicated by number ten and the wider government. i also think there are some more fundamental things here. one is that this is a long held conservative seat which people would just expect, with a