Andrea Leadsom and Frank Field: Registering births in children’s centres will boost support for struggling families

This is the second of three articles in a mini-series for this week about giving children and families the best start in life.

Frank Young: Educational Long Covid. Why the collapse of schooling over lockdown will haunt the poor for years to come.

The second in our mini-series of pieces from the Centre for Social Justice on the virus – and helping those in deep poverty.

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.

Johnson’s August 2) Finding support among opposition MPs – or at least trying to – before any no confidence vote

There are now 15 independents, plus the Change UK factions and a smattering of pro-Brexit rebel Labour MPs.

WATCH: “This is the moment and this is the time…to get the deal done,” a hoarse Prime Minister tells the Commons

“Only then can we do what we came here to do – what we were sent here to do.”

Unthinking the thinkable

How the far left uses a feedback loop to shut down people in the short term – and ideas in the long.

Joel Charles: The hard left must not be allowed to win the ground war

A clear campaign narrative that balances local and national priorities is crucial. Engage with community groups. Select candidates early. Use social media to complement, not replace, campaigning.

Philip Booth: Field is a great man and a great politician – but no, he is not a Conservative

It would be a mistake for the Conservatives to even try to recruit him. Instead, they should follow his lead of thinking – and saying – the unsayable.

Field resigns the Labour whip over anti-Semitism – full statement

“The leadership is doing nothing substantive to address this erosion of our core values. It saddens me to say that we are increasingly seen as a racist party.”

Stephen Hammond’s loss and Phillip Lee’s win. Full list of Conservatives who rebelled on Trade Bill amendments.

The presence of four Labour Leavers helped the UK to avoid a customs union – but their absence on a more minor amendment produced a Government defeat.

The 14 Conservatives who voted against the ERG’s Customs Bill amendment on tariffs

Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Graham Stringer and Kelvin Hopkins voted with the Government.

Six Tory MPs backed the Grieve amendment, and four Labour MPs supported the Government

Does the narrowness of the win signal further problems to come, or has the Government headed off the revolt?

Good Grieve

Long-standing Leavers, who stood out for personal conviction against the Party leadership, should understand Remainers who are now in the same position.

And the Word was made…tweet?

Whatever you believe, there is force in the claim that truth sets you free. But this Christmas, as at other times, it comes with a cost.

The seven Labour MPs who voted with the Conservatives earlier today

The Government won by 326 votes to 290. Ken Clarke voted against the Programme Motion – the only Tory vote against the Bill earlier today.