Tuition fees shouldn’t become the forgotten problem of this Parliament

The Government’s efforts to create a new marketplace in higher education are laudable in many ways – but they still haven’t been totally successful.

Meeting the challenge of an ageing population. We could do a lot worse than plain old honesty.

Politicians say that they’re concerned about the costs and implications of an elderly society. But, at the same, they’re making them worse.

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice are the Lib Dems’ new battlegrounds of choice

It used to be Laws versus Gove. Now it’s Hughes versus Grayling, or perhaps even Featherstone versus May.

Peter Hoskin: Tory Reform 3) Francis Maude – A man with a programme for another five years

The Tories may have been unprepared for Civil Service reform in 2010, but the same won’t happen in 2015. The plan is already in place and already working.

Shortlist announced for Bury St Edmunds selection

The current Conservative MP, David Ruffley, enjoys a majority of 12,380 votes.

Cameron, victim of Merkel’s problems…

…and architect of some of his own. What will become of the renegotiation now?

In celebration of the Centre for Social Justice

The think-tank reaches its tenth anniversary this year. As its recent awards ceremony showed, it does thing differently – and with great success.

The Tories cannot forget the Great Promise that they made

Which was, and still is, to reduce the deficit. All of the current talk about tax cuts risks undermining that.

The state of the Conservatives’ relations with the unions

The past week has been instructive: things have improved, but not by enough to effect proper change.

Another victory in Maude’s struggle to change the culture of the Civil Service

The Prime Minister will have more influence in the appointment of senior officials. That should help Whitehall know who’s boss.  

Meet John Manzoni, the new guardian of Civil Service reform

Or is he? Much will depend on how much support this businessman within Whitehall gets from No.10.

Oliver Dowden selected for Hertsmere

The Prime Minister’s deputy chief of staff triumphed over Cllr Antonia Cox, Cllr Chris Hayward and Rishi Sunak. Congratulations and commiserations all round.

Allow Government to fail and JFDI, says Maude

What does JFDI mean? The minister tactfully translated it as “just do it”.

Defectors, joiners and Lord Ashcroft in a packed ConHome marquee

The first report from our selection of fringe events at Conservative Party Conference.

Cameron’s conference speeches tell the sad story of his leadership

Whatever happened to the conviction and consistency of Cameron’s early years as party leader? Nowadays, it’s hard to know what his beliefs really are.