Leigh is right: Parliament must be repaired, but not emptied

It would be a huge waste to spend huge sums restoring the body of Westminster whilst decanting – probably permanently – its spirit.

Voters need to take defence spending seriously – then the Government will

During the Cold War being ‘strong on defence’ was a potent vote winner, and the money flowed accordingly.

Henry Hill: Talk of direct rule as top civil servant redeploys to Northern Ireland

Also: May wades into Scottish flag row; Liberal Democrat accused of costing taxpayers thousands to prop up Jones; and DUP dismiss legal threat to £1 billion deal.

The border is staying at Calais: another pillar of ‘Project Fear’ quietly crumbles

Yes, we’re going to have to pay for it. But hasn’t using Britain’s status as a net contributor to secure deals always been part of the plan?

Henry Hill: May resists DUP calls for direct rule as Bradley calls for yet more talks

Also: Tories say data proves Sturgeon should abandon tax plans; Jones joins Scottish Conservatives to menace the Withdrawal Bill; and DUP may back boundary review.

A new grand coalition in Germany may be a boon for AfD

If both of the main parties remain locked together in an unpopular pact, it creates more space in which new challengers can grow.

Henry Hill: Foster calls for direct rule in Northern Ireland after meeting with Bradley

Also: Scottish Tories row in behind bid to wreck the Withdrawal Bill; infighting in Welsh Labour over method of electing new leader; and more.

The row over Toby Young’s appointment offers a preview of politics in the social media age

When a generation that grew up online starts seeking public office, it won’t just be journalists who have a trail of unguarded comments that anyone can find.

There is scant evidence that May is about to u-turn on the Customs Union

The Prime Minister has made the freedom to strike trade deals, so important to key allies and the membership, a cornerstone of her strategy.

Even now, Corbyn seems unlikely to pay for his supporting the Iranian theocracy

His opponents have not been lax about emphasising his previous support for the regime immiserating Venezuela, but it hasn’t cut through with British voters.

Johnson is right, Foreign Office oversight of the aid budget would be wise

Overseas development spending will never fulfil its soft-power potential if DfID is allowed to pursue what amounts to its own foreign policy.

Brexit has busted the myth of the fragile Union

As 2017 draws to a close, the United Kingdom is in better shape than many of its supporters had dared to hope.

Watch Hunt – now up to second in our final Cabinet League Table of 2017. Gove keeps the top spot.

Davidson and Mordaunt also score highly, whilst the Chancellor and Chief Whip both languish with negative scores.

Henry Hill: Davies attacks the Welsh political class for anti-Brexit groupthink

Also: Cairns criticised over future of Swansea tidal lagoon; SNP squeeze private schools as teacher crisis deepends; and Foster ‘was not fully warned’ about RHI risks.

Scully replaces Hammond as Party Vice-Chair for London

The MP for Sutton and Cheam will have his work cut out to reconnect the Tories to a city which some fear could become their “next Scotland”.