Protecting free speech. University legislation will help. But ministers need to speak out more.

Williamson’s new policy is an important step – but Conservatives cannot legislate themselves out of the culture wars.

“If universities can’t defend free speech, the Government will”, said Williamson in February. He meant it.

The Education Secretary’s Higher Education Restructuring Regime is an important step towards fighting cancel culture.

Neil O’Brien: The New Puritans want to tear down our liberal settlement. Here’s what they think – and why they must be resisted.

Countries need a balance of self-criticism and self-confidence. People are often called on to act for a greater good. But if Britain is shameful, why bother?

The Government has held 86 Coronavirus press conferences. How many has Coffey fronted? None. Why?

If the Prime Minister doesn’t have confidence in his most senior Ministers, it’s impossible to see how anyone else can.

Rudd is right; we need more women in the Coronavirus “war cabinet”

Gender diversity is not arbitrary identity politics; it matters for decision-making, particularly in the fight against the disease.

Is the Home Office still unfit for purpose?

If Downing Street doesn’t grip the campaign against Patel by allies of her Permanent Secretary and others, it may spiral out of control.

Our survey. Gove is Minister of the Year.

He is one of the few elements of continuity in what has been a turbulent year at the Government’s top table.

A revolution has taken place in the Conservative Party

It’s not just about there being more Tory MPs. There has been a remarkable clearout of the establishment figures.

Jack Irvine: It’s time the Conservatives started caring for our seaside towns

The ignorance of many MPs and ministers towards the state of seaside communities is particularly surprising as coastal constituencies elect a quarter of all MPs.

The programme motion falls by 322 votes to 308

The Prime Minister falls 14 votes short – and says that the Bill will be paused while he speaks to EU leaders.

Withdrawal Bill, Second Reading. The Government wins by 30 votes.

It’s a surprisingly large Government majority: 24 independents and 19 Labour MPs voted with the Government.

WATCH: “We have to make sure we don’t leave with no deal”. Rudd’s take.

She explains: “I didn’t vote for an extension , I voted for an insurance policy against no deal… I support the Prime Minister’s deal.”

Our guestimate of the numbers. Letwin’s amendment should pass. But were Johnson’s deal voted on, it would be too close to call.

On a vote on the deal, our calculation is that the Government will lose by two – though that bypasses abstentions. But such a vote is very unlikely today,

The eight MPs from whom the Conservative whip was removed who voted today against a conference recess

Steve Brine and Greg Clark, who have also been deprived of the whip, voted with the Government – which lost by 289 votes to 306.

Amber Rudd: Has the time come to reconsider electoral reform? Her speech yesterday: full text.

Would a system of more proportional representation have seen our institutions better able to respect the results of elections?