James Frayne: Step one in showing provincial English voters more respect. Clear up this Customs Union mess.

Given that they saved the Party’s bacon, you would expect senior figures to say and do whatever it takes to keep them on side.

Howard Flight: Local elections should be about local government

All teenagers should be taught at school about the structure of the British constitution – this would help improve the engagement and basis of knowledge for local government elections.

Nicky Morgan: For too long, the Party has appeased Brexiteer obsessives. It’s time for One Nation Tories to fight back.

The ‘bins and council tax’ message which resonated in the local elections needs to be turned into a ‘public services, security and cost of living’ message nationally.

Ashley Fox: The fight over Galileo satellite programme encapsulates the EU’s attitude to Brexit

Brussels struggles to stray from the letter of the rules – and thus insists on treating the UK as an ordinary third party despite our unique security relationship.

Iain Dale: Why Philip May is the Prime Minister’s Willie

Plus: That customs Cabinet committee meeting – and luck & chance in politics. How Zephaniah has fallen. Javid v Khan. And: my local elections overnight marathon.

Henry Hill: Trades unions clash with front-runner for Welsh Labour leadership

Also: Sinn Fein defend senator’s ‘unionist’ credentials; Plaid bid to outlaw mockery of the Welsh language; and London and Edinburgh face Supreme Court showdown.

Garvan Walshe: The IDF’s chief of staff thinks the Iran deal is good enough. Why doesn’t Netanyahu?

The Israeli Prime Minister senses a chance to finally succeed in his years-long campaign to persuade the United States to bomb Iran’s nuclear programme.

Alex Morton: A solution to Tory electoral problems in the capital. Work to make it more like the rest of England.

It’s wrong to claim that May and Brexit have brought new problems for the Conservatives in London. These were clear in 2015 under Cameron.

James Frayne: The Home Office is famously hard to run, but Rudd might have survived had she had a better grip on it

In my experience of departmental life, it will take at least six months before we can judge Javid’s management.

Henry Newman: No more delays, Prime Minister – it’s time to make a decision on customs

There are two options under consideration. One in particular, the partnership model, is unworkable and unacceptable. It should be put out of its misery.

Rebecca Lowe: What Alfie Evans, an IVF-conceived child and the abortion pill all have in common

These concerns, however, often only add to the need for us to remain ethically and democratically engaged, particularly regarding the most emotive cases.

Iain Dale: The good plain old-fashioned party poster – driven out of politics by thuggery and fear

Plus: Local elections – Jacqui Smith and I step in where the BBC won’t go. And: my advice to Rudd? KBO – as Churchill used to put it.

Henry Hill: Welsh Labour prepare for leadership race as Jones announces departure

Also: DUP maintain a tough line on Brexit as Sinn Fein try to woo unionists with Senate appointment; and SNP have to delay devolution again.

Daniel Hannan: Like the Windrush children, EU nationals raised here have a moral right to UK citizenship

We must oppose illegal immigration. But making life harder for legitimate residents helps nobody.

Robert Halfon: Degree apprenticeships – the key to fighting social injustice in higher education, and boosting productivity.

The new Office for Students must lead in this. There must be sanctions from the new regulator for those universities who are failing in this regard.