Alex Morton: Conservatives and Liberals share a new opponent – Progressive Authoritarians

But some, perhaps many, Tory MPs have these tendencies – including one no less senior than the Prime Minister herself.

Let’s suppose missile strikes target the Assad regime. But afterwards chemical weapons are used again in Syria. What then?

Reports this morning suggest conflict within the Government and hesitation in America. And no wonder.

Birmingham is a key test – perhaps the most important one – for the Tories in the local elections

We open a three-part series this week on May’s elections, beginning today with the cities that are all-out.

Paul Mercer: Police forces and councils seem to forget the reasons for the Prevent programme

For reasons of political correctness, its remit now covers far more groups, many of which are clearly not engaged in violent protest, let alone terrorism.

As May squares up to one security challenge, Cameron reminds us of another: Islamist extremism – and its wider dimensions.

In Washington, the former Prime Minister ponders how his approach to tackling non-violent as well as violent extremism can be built on.

Alistair Thompson: Stick to the day job, Ofsted – and drop this power grab. You don’t need it to stop Islamist extremists.

This latest scheme could drag sports clubs, the Scouts and Guides and even the TA, Royal Naval Reserves and cadets into its net.

Do the voices shouting down Sara Khan really represent Britain’s Muslims?

Polling suggests real concern among them about extremism. But one wouldn’t think so from the coverage of her appointment.

James Watt: For all the grim headlines, peace in the Middle East really is achievable

It won’t be easy but regional powers can make it happen if they make the right choices.

Iain Dale: Trump is a warped narcissist who gives succour to racists, white supremacists and Islamophobes.

Plus: Englishness in Norwich. Remainer complaints everywhere. And: Noel Gallagher, political philosopher, gives his view of Corbyn.

Nadhim Zahawi: No one will win if the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia turns hot

The goals of the young Crown Prince are broadly in line with ours. But we should be urging calm thinking and cool heads.

Robert Buckland: “We must speak the language of opportunity”. His lecture on Tory revival. Full text.

“The language should be that of giving people their chance to succeed and of being on their side – a “people politics” that many practice locally but which must be scaled up.”

Benedict Rogers: The plight of Burma’s Muslims is stoking Islamist extremism here – one of many reasons why Britain must act

Britain should call in the Burmese ambassador, suspend its training programme with the Burma Army, and continue to press at the UN.

Abdellatif el-Menawy: Islamists won’t like the Government’s tougher stance towards the Muslim Brotherhood. But Egyptians will.

Alistair Burt’s remarks while visiting our country represented a significant adjustment of the British approach to combatting terrorism.

David Cameron: No-one has the right to opt out of the fight against Islamist extremism

We should accept no excuses, nor indulge in any illusions – we are facing a barbaric, medieval death cult.

John Jenkins: The Government must rethink its policy of engagement with Islamists

I can’t find a single example of this policy successfully moderating such an organisation, but plenty of it distorting Western policy.