Henry Hill: Deal to restore Stormont could apparently be done ‘in days’

Also: Tension in Welsh Labour as Sargeant’s son wins Assembly by-election; and Robertson resigns and triggers SNP deputy leadership election.

Garvan Walshe: British defence planning should focus on supporting Ukraine against a rearmed Russia

Doing so would be an opportunity for us to learn – Ukrainian forces have valuable experience of state-to-state conflict, and of Russian weaponry we have never faced.

Alex Morton: We could have had a radical Brexit. But we’re out of time for one – for the moment.

We are likely to get a deal with something for everyone – a ‘softish’ Brexit with May-style immigration controls. But the longer-term offers great opportunities.

Henry Newman: Amidst the row about neutrality, a big question looms. Is the civil service up to delivering Brexit effectively?

Whitehall has at times imperilled its reputation for neutrality, but there remains a positive ‘can-do’ attitude about Brexit. The Government should harness it.

Howard Flight: Of course the Withdrawal Bill needs to be scrutinised and amended – but it must ultimately pass

Some of the powers it proposes to give to ministers are not democratically acceptable. But peers should correct these flaws, not seek to block Brexit itself.

Syed Kamall: Ministers must not be cowed by Brussels protestations of unity

Behind the scenes many of Europe’s nations and regions are weighing the cost of a hard Brexit and pushing for a better deal.

Iain Dale: Don’t knock Mancock, er, Hancock

The Conservatives ought to learn from him. Plus: Vote, vote, vote for Widdecombe. Fire and Fury is damp and limp. My teeth, oh, my teeth. And: My quest to enter Phillip Lee’s brain.

Henry Hill: Welsh Tories demand that Jones gives investigators his personal emails

Also: Bradley admits that she is obliged to call an Ulster election (but won’t say when); Tories attack SNP’s ‘double-dip’ tax hike; and more.

Daniel Hannan: When everyone and everything is called racist and sexist, no-one and nothing is

When these terms are misused as catch-all boo-words, they lose their meaning and their essential value.

Rebecca Lowe: I’d rather you didn’t go to watch strippers. But I don’t think the state should stop you.

Is there a going rate for such a job — which includes wearing a prescribed colour of underwear?

James Frayne: Johnson is the only person making a popular pitch to voters – Downing Street is unwise to slap him down

They might think him crass, or judge him to be over-reaching – but they haven’t come up with any equivalent ideas themselves. It’s time to announce some popular stuff.

Robert Halfon: Give the people a referendum every decade on how much to increase NHS spending

Underpinned by a guarantee of a real-terms increase at minimum, this would help to draw the poison from the issue – particular for Conservatives.

Nicky Morgan: Perhaps the Prime Minister should have gone. But she didn’t. The Cabinet must now take a lead.

Ministers need get a grip by acting collectively to agree a Brexit end-state based in reality and on what Parliament will approve eventually – and then stick to it.

Iain Dale: What happened at the President’s Club was no worse than many women’s events

Plus: Vicious Cybernats. Bolton’s brass neck. Widdecombe’s ratings. Johnson’s death wish. And: the courage of my friend Tessa Jowell.

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.