A Brexiteer backbencher and former minister, who has not yet signalled how he intends to vote on the deal, has been knighted.
Also: Jones criticised for shielding ministers from independent scrutiny; and Mundell’s bizarre pop at ‘carpet-bagging’ colleagues.
We set five tests for it. Does this draft agreement pass them? And does it really take back control of our borders, laws and money?
Losing both them and the DUP will send a very strong signal to every Conservative MP about its implications for the Union.
Also: Scottish Tories attack SNP over income tax ‘gap’; no boost for Plaid from new leader; and DUP’s Brexit donation given a clean bill of legal health.
Four fifths of our panel remain opposed to her leadership, but within that group there has been a significant hardening of attitudes.
The party has selected a local candidate to win back what was one of only a few Conservative footholds in the North East.
Also: May meets new Plaid leader in Downing Street; Bradley mulls ‘external mediator’ for devolution talks; SNP row over ‘People’s Vote’; and more.
In justifying their defence of Austria’s ‘blasphemy law’, its judges seem to be not just expanding but changing the relevant protections in the Convention.
Davidson and Mundell are right to be concerned that a differential Brexit deal for one part of the UK could put rocket boosters under SNP demands for similar treatment.
With strong local connections and potentially years to campaign, she likely has a strong chance of overturning Labour’s narrow majority.
Also: Scottish Conservatives keep up the pressure over fishing and the backstop; Plaid set out new front bench; and Bradley empowers Northern Irish civil service.
It will help Davidson solidify her grip on the unionist base, and give swing voters minded for a change from the SNP fewer alternatives to consider.