Bim Afolami: MPs’ plight. Trolls, terrorists and thugs account for much of it. But some our problems are of our own making.

We need to stand up for the value of Parliament and of spending time there improving and working on legislation.

Sarah Ingham: Social inequality can’t be fixed by erasing Britain’s history

It is a litany of uncomfortable and inconvenient truths. Obsessing over these does little to spur progress.

Henry Hill: The SNP’s new politics of ‘are you dead yet?’ shows time is not really on their side

Also: Court rules that Lewis has failed in his responsibility to provide abortion services in Ulster; Sturgeon accused of Covid cover-up.

Garvan Walshe: Poland’s Kaczynski fights Brussels – and his own people

Poles believe their country should be considered one of the major nations of Europe, and belong to the same club as Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Charlotte Gill’s Podcasts Review 2) Camilla Tominey with Liz Truss, Jack Blanchard with Lee Cain, Katy Balls with Dehenna Davison

In this feature, we look at some of the most memorable podcasts of the last few weeks.

Daniel Hannan: Lord Frost’s speech yesterday exposed the staggering petulance of Britain’s Euro-zealots

A section of the commentariat was so unbalanced by the referendum result that it now automatically sides with the EU.

Emily Carver: Our nation’s biggest shortage may not be HGV drivers or turkeys, but optimism

Panic has gripped the nation – and is leading politicians to make flawed decisions.

James Frayne: Lessons from around England on how to restore civic pride to our towns

This agenda will be absolutely crucial if ‘levelling up’ is ever to become something meaningful to people on the ground.

Richard Holden: Why are we still shackled by EU rules that force investment abroad?

Essentially, the Solvency 2 regulations make it difficult for our pensions and insurance firms to invest in long-term, secure, fixed assets in the UK.

Howard Flight: It’s time Conservative MPs opposed the Treasury’s spending bandwagon

Politicians and civil servants need to relearn that the route to lower taxes lies in sustained economic growth and discipline on public expenditure.

Peter Franklin: The growing threat from the Green Party

Ardingly & Balcombe, Aldeburgh & Leiston, Downs North; Horndean Downs, Brundall: what might all these local government losses have in common?

David Gauke: Johnson’s party is more socially conservative, populist and economically interventionist. But how much?

There is evidence, however, that suggests that the move to abandoning all recent Tory traditions is not quite so straightforward.

Sarah Ingham: The Government could learn a thing or two from Britain’s panic buyers

At least they know how to identify, assess and prepare for risks – unlike ministers, it seems.

Henry Hill: ‘Show, don’t tell’ is the right way to fight the SNP – and ‘Ukima unionism’ in action

Also: DUP call for ‘unionist unity’ pact is a cul-de-sac for Northern Ireland that the other parties should resist.

Garvan Walshe: Germany’s new government may get tougher on Russia and China. Which would suit ours. But there’s a snag.

Ministers must grasp that this new one will be even more disposed to conduct its foreign policy through the EU.