Sam Bowman: The Budget offers an opportunity for Sunak to move on road pricing. He should take it.
In the second piece of our mini-series, our guest author says that a switch to the scheme would most likely leave the average motorist better-off.
Comment
Benedict McAleenan: Britain’s coming Green Revolution will need better data
Eustice should start by creating an ‘Office for Natural Statistics’, to sit within DEFRA and co-ordinate data collection in a way never done before.
John Redwood: In this post-Brexit budget, Sunak should spend more, cut taxes and raise borrowing
In the first piece of a mini-series, our guest author also argues the Government should look again at IR35, and make it more worthwhile to work.
Philip Booth: The planning system can be liberalised in a conservative way
Allowing developers to negotiate at a very local level to provide compensation directly to the community would factor in beauty, practicality and social costs.
Mark Lehain: Ending the union monopoly on workplace representation would be a positive change
Allowing alternative organisations at hearing would mean levelling up the quality of life for workers.
Neil Parish: A strengthened Environment Bill can build on our record for cleaning up the nation’s air
I am tabling vital amendments to the Bill. Efforts to reduce toxic pollution should not be on the backburner.
Lord Ashcroft: An open letter to Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the new International Development Secretary
I was delighted to see your appointment. I confess to slight bias, given that you retweeted an article of mine calling for an end to ring-fencing of the aid budget.
Ben Gadsby: Yes, the tuition fee system is working. And, no, there aren’t too many young people in higher education.
Too often, discussions about the sector generate more heat than light – and the light falls in the wrong place. We can do better.
Benedict Rogers: If we mean what we say about ‘global Britain’, we must stand up to China
Johnson must not fall for the myth that China is a coming global power, or that it won’t trade with Britain if the Government gets tough on human rights.
Martin Parsons: A US deal with the Taliban would be worse than Obama’s nuclear deal
The only real hope that exists for lasting peace is to strengthen the Afghan government and its institutions, not undermine them.
Chris Bullivant: If free market and social conservatives find common ground, they could be unstoppable
The schism between between Tory Eurosceptics and Europhiles has been overcome; now another divide must be healed.
Ziya Meral: It is time for a British Security Conference
It is impossible to deny the value brought by such events to the host country, from messaging, to engagement and building of networks
Andrew Haldenby: Even after austerity, shocking amounts of money are wasted by underperforming state bodies
Voters are more open to higher spending, but if they pay higher taxes for services that don’t improve then they won’t be happy.
George Trefgarne: The Prime Minister is hovering in a holding pattern above Heathrow
Johnson and Shapps may lose a legal case over the expansion plan, and then decide whether or not to go to their favourite place – the Supreme Court.
Nadhim Zahawi: In defence of Cummings. He’s focused on delivering for those we serve. Isn’t that for the best?
We’ve been through all this before with the Gove education reforms – which he co-worked on and which have helped to improve lives.