Profile: Olive, sorry, Oliver Dowden, saviour of the arts, bedrock insider – and unknown to the public

Few people understand better than the Culture Secretary how the government machine works, or fails to work.

Andrew Gimson’s Commons sketch: There is a place not just for smiles but for Samuel Smiles in the Chancellor’s vision

Dodds, replying for Labour, claimed Johnson’s motto is “The buck stops anywhere but here”.

Profile: Ben Elliot, Co-Chairman of the Party, under fire for the seating plan which put Jenrick next to Desmond

This Johnson ally, who runs the party on the PM’s behalf, has two modes, charming and angry, and is a more serious figure than he looks.

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Johnson would rather be “Wrong but Wromantic” than “Right but Repulsive”

Starmer finds himself the bearer of bad news, a Roundhead reproaching the Cavalier PM for holding out the prospect of a rosy future.

Profile: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal is the inspiration for Johnson’s Build, Build, Build

He “gave people hope” and “discovered how to bypass a predominantly hostile press and speak directly to the people”. Remind you of anyone?

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Planet Fact redoubles its attacks on Planet Freedom

Week by week, Starmer and Johnson become more determined to treat each other as alien and essentially despicable forms of life.

Profile: Robert Jenrick, who rose without trace until he hit two bumps in the road

If the Housing Secretary is to survive, he will have to learn the art of sometimes saying no to property developers such as Richard Desmond.

Profile: Black people in Britain, and whether this is an irretrievably racist or a wonderful country

It seems to me there is truth on both sides of this argument. The nuances to which Lammy refers get lost once combat is joined.

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Johnson exudes an impudent freedom and refuses to take Starmer seriously

The PM crashed about in a manner which recalled the short, brilliant, astonishingly abusive career of Lord Randolph Churchill.

Johnson and Jenrick may want to reform planning, but will millions of homeowners let them?

A new collection of essays from Policy Exchange shows up some of the glaring defects of the planning system.

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Johnson accuses the leader of the opposition of being a lawyer

The PM’s critics treat him as a disgraceful person, who consorts with other disgraceful people. He indicates that they’re a lot of prosy, anti-American prigs.

Interview with Chris Patten: We must stand up to the Communists in Beijing who hate freedom in Hong Kong

“I’m very, very positive about China, but I’m very, very negative about the Chinese Communist Party.”

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Johnson is starting to feel fed up with Starmer, and accused him of being unpatriotic

They make an odd couple, bound to infuriate each other, but already they have rescued PMQs from the torpor into which it had fallen.

Trump’s brutal response to the riots puts him closer to the people than his liberal opponents

American liberals have a fervent belief in equality, and will do everything they can for the American people short of spending any time with them.

Disraeli the anti-prig tells us far more about Johnson than Churchill does

Disraeli’s impudence and audacity, demonstrated in this collection of his sayings, cast light on the present Prime Minister’s conduct.