If it’s Thursday then that means two things to the political classes – Question Time on BBC1 and, of course, the local council by-elections. To me these are important for what they say about local party organisation and just how motivated activists are.

There are five tonight and there’s a good preview here with all the facts and figures on the Britain Votes site.

One of them has been caused by caused by the resignation of a Tory councillor who posted a tweet comparing gay marriage to marriage with animals.

Keep the news flowing on this thread.

@MikeSmithsonPB