Eamonn Butler: The Government wants to build back better. It might want to sort out its enormous tax burden first.

Sunak & Co show no sign of setting their sights on getting it down.

Deborah Mattinson – Labour’s new strategist. What we know of her views on the Red Wall.

Last year, ConservativeHome was delighted to have her on our panel about the Red Wall and social care. Here’s some of what she said.

Jonathan Werran: As recent local elections showed, the mayoral revolution has been a success. Now it must roll on.

The role of strong local leadership here cannot be underestimated in galvanizing place prosperity.

Today’s Covid anniversary and the freedom gap

During the last year, we’ve learned much about the Government – but far more about ourselves.

Robert Halfon: Conservatives must never be complacent about Starmer. The public mood can change quickly.

Plus: The Government will soon have to set out the tough decisions on public spending to constituents.

John O’Connell: Presiding over the biggest tax burden in 70 years is surely a legacy Johnson must be keen to avoid

In one of an occasional series we are running in advance of the Budget, some radical suggestions for kickstarting the British economy.

Iain Dale: Johnson can say all the right words. But not in a way that people relate to, as Blair and Cameron could.

Plus: Sturgeon is ridiculous to criticise the PM’s trip to Scotland. And: Now’s not the time for a Coronavirus inquiry.

More fence-sitting from Starmer as Labour MPs challenge deportation flight

As nearly 70 of the party’s MPs successfully campaigned to remove 30 criminals from a flight, their leader has gone quiet. Again.

WATCH: This is “not the right time at all” for a Scottish independence referendum – Brown’s verdict

“There’s got to be a time to heal before you go into any divisive, conflicting referendum.”

Michael Dugher: Covid-19 is a lesson in the three Rs for the government

While it’s important to focus on the ‘R’ rate in tackling covid, we must also balance health concerns against two other Rs – recovery versus recession.

Phil Taylor: Labour’s Austerity 1) How Brown’s Government planned £94 billion of cuts

As the tenth anniversary of the 2010 election approaches, the author says that Labour’s own austerity record and plans were almost as tough as the Coalition’s.

David Gauke: A traditional southern Conservative supporter ponders how best to vote

Economic competence has been the cornerstone of the Conservative appeal. Remove that cornerstone and the entire structure becomes fragile.

From Reggie to Rory Sahib: Here at Westminster, you can smell the fear and ambition

Of course, many of the sacked ministers – Fallon, Mitchell, Shapps and a dozen others are hoping for preferment under a Boris administration.

Anthony Browne: Policy Gains from Brexit 5) Making regional development more effective

The then EU Budget Commissioner told me that giving control of this funding to national governments would make it subject to “democratic whim”.

Mark Francois: The voluntary party must now save us from ourselves

I welcome the suggestion that local Associations should follow the lead that the National Convention took last weekend.