Iain Dale: Let’s hope the old, bubbly, effervescent Patel returns

Plus: How many letters has Brady had? The tragedy of the death of Carl Sargeant. And: introducing my new podcast with Jacqui Smith.

Lord Ashcroft: Voters are losing confidence that a good deal on leaving the EU will be secured for Britain

My research shows that both Remain and Leave voters are less sure about the prospect of a good outcome than they were before the general election.

Ideas for the Budget 5) James Kirkup: Ditch the surplus target. Build new towns. Raise inheritance taxes and boost universal credit.

The Social Market Foundation isn’t tied to any party. We’re centrists – our advice and ideas on offer to anyone who wants to put common sense ahead of ideology.

No, the Government is not on the verge of collapse. Only Tory MPs can currently force its demise. Which they shouldn’t.

Its poll rating is 40 per cent or so, the economy is growing, and an election isn’t due until 2022. A sense of perspective is essential – for all the Government’s weaknesses.

Daniel Hannan: Coercion may be working in Catalonia, but it won’t work here

EU leaders – encourage by a rump of British Europhiles – are pursuing the fantasy that if they bully us enough, we might change our minds.

Ideas for the Budget 4) Nick Denys: Give workers greater control, in order to make us all richer

The Chancellor should also support life-long learning through training vouchers, and offer tax breaks for politically independent trade unions.

Patel resigns: “I offer a fulsome apology.” She and May find a way of making the best of the departure.

They seem to have settled on a means of stage-managing this exit. We will see how long the settlement lasts.

The irony of Patel’s gambit. It harmed Israel’s interests.

It is an ally, and the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. But its interests are not identical with Britain’s, and its friends should always bear this in mind.

Interview with Rosa Monckton. How the minimum wage helps keep 93 per cent of people with learning difficulties unemployed

The businesswoman, whose daughter Domenica has Down’s Syndrome, says that the disabled should be welcomed into the world of work.

Rebecca Lowe Coulson: Luther voted Brexit! And other errors about Britain and the Reformation.

A decision like leaving the EU had billions of causes: some of those were set in motion by happenings centuries ago, but none pre-determine what happens today.

Ideas for the Budget 3) Fiona Bruce: It should start to reduce the huge costs of family breakdown

The Chancellor should commit to a Family Services Transformation Fund of £100 million over four years to help relationship support and post-separation support.

Our survey and Brexit. Party members divide down the middle about bringing a halt to the talks.

Party member opinion on the negotiations is clearly at the harder end of the spectrum on independence and economics – though not invariably on immigration.

Ideas for the Budget 2) Andrew Lilico: How Hammond can create sovereign wealth funds to invest in housing

Plus: the official measure of inflation should be changed; student funding requires reform; and the Chancellor must prepare for No Deal.

Brandon Lewis: Our immigration policy. Taking back control with compassion.

Our proposals on how to do so will be brought forward next year. In so doing, we will drive our commitment to get net migration down to sustainable levels.

Put Letwin in charge of a new Swinton College

He has served the Conservative Party for the best part of 40 years, and his new book shows that his contribution is not yet exhausted.