A D-day disaster, dodgy leaflets and policies pulled out of

Grassroots Conservatives are staying loyal to the party, but the leadership would be fools to take their support for granted

In politics as in war, an ambush can be a devastatingly effective tactic. Catching your opponent off-guard and out of position has often seen underdogs overcome mightier opponents and reverse the direst of fortunes.

This seems to have been the logic – such as there was – of Rishi Sunak’s decision to call the general election for 4 July. But it increasingly looks as though it will prove a self-inflicted wound of historic proportions.