| Round one to Rishi Sunak. The UK prime minister has seen off a revolt by Conservative MPs over a bill to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. But Robert Shrimsley argues that the abortive revolt was never really about how to deal with clandestine cross-Channel migrants. “This is a battle for control of the post-election Conservative party,” he says. “It is also about whether the Tories follow other western right-of-centre groupings in becoming defined primarily as an anti-immigration party.” Robert says Sunak has shown both this week and in the past that he has the courage to defy his hardliners. But as the election nears without signs of revival, the revolts are going to increase. He must not just defy his wreckers but find ways to ensure they take their rightful share of blame after the election. Elsewhere, Edward Luce appraises Vladimir Putin’s good friends in the US — many Republicans resist aid to Ukraine on the basis that anything harmful to Joe Biden must be right for their party. Toby Nangle writes on new research that suggests stocks outperform bonds by less than you think. He says equities cannot guarantee superior performance over the investment horizon of most investors Jude Webber explains how Northern Ireland’s Dark Hedges sowed the seeds of a thriving film industry. A new production hub is set to be the biggest in Europe and seal Belfast’s reputation as a tech-creative nexus Letter: Ukraine’s partners need to stand united against Russia’s illegal war — from Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland, Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden and Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland:
This is a critical time for Ukraine, for Europe and for global security. Lessening support to Ukraine now is not an option. On the contrary, now is the time to harness support and stick to our plans for how we will help Ukraine be successful in the war, rebuild the country and defend itself in the long run. | 
