Lord Ashcroft’s Conference Diary: Perhaps Johnson really is the British Trump. And voters like it.

And: Gove says MPs can sit at weekends to get a deal through. Plus: Brisk business at the bookstall – and the menace of the “offence archaeologists”.

‘Words have consequences.’ Unless, it seems, you’re a hardcore Remainer.

What would they say if Brexiteers used the language of coups, Nazis, and spilt blood that has been so prevalent from the pro-EU camp in the last 24 hours?

The Moggcast. The Foreign Secretary’s “personal attacks” on Johnson “make it harder” for him to continue serve in top Cabinet roles.

He also dismisses “this lunatic policeman” who threatened press freedom, and says “if necessary I will read out every word of [Darroch’s cables] in the House of Commons.”

Rachel Wolf: The Birmingham schools gay relationships row. Religious conservatives won’t like it, but government must take a stand.

You can’t ignore the existence of couples and families that you’ve actively supported in legislation.

Rachel Wolf: Twenty policy questions for the aspiring Conservative leadership candidates.

Lots of people want to know what the next Prime Minister will do for the country on everything other than Brexit.

Be cautious when a watchdog bites its rivals

Fleet Street, normally a justified sceptic of men from the ministry controlling what people publish, is an enthusiast of regulating social media giants.

Tom Harwood: The threat to free speech at universities is not a myth

Durham Students Union is looking into ways of shutting down a new pro-life group on campus. This group is entirely unaffiliated with the students union.

Exclusive. “In a timely manner”. The best part of six months on, the Party’s inquiry clears Johnson over his burka column.

Launched amidst the inevitable blaze of publicity, the decision has been smuggled out like the fabled thief in the night.

Iain Dale: It’s going to be a White Christmas – because there are snowflakes, snowflakes everywhere.

Plus: Tory MPs, the world’s most duplicitous electorate. But a certain long-serving woman Labour MP is sending Christmas cards to them all…

It was odious to burn an effigy of the Grenfell Tower – but those responsible should not have been arrested

The police should not arrest people for being offensive. Not just because burglaries and violence matter more. But because we need the freedom to offend.

Ashers Bakery. Politicians should do their job rather than force courts to arbitrate on conflicting rights

If MPs want to take the plaudits for creating such laws, they must also take the responsibility of defining their limits.

Unthinking the thinkable

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

Bob Seely: Ten steps to defend our country against the aggression and subversion of Putin’s Russia

Protecting our open society against threats from authoritarian states is an essential battle. We must not lose.

WATCH: Ici Londres – Hannan suggests that offence-taking has become a form of conspicuous consumption

“I’ll give you a general rule of thumb – a heuristic, if you will. Anyone who says ‘I am offended’ is not really offended.”

Atkins’ careful and considered words on trans issues must not be howled down

Her comments on gender reassignment treatments are mild and responsibly-phrased. But some are starting up the outrage bus.