HS2’s financial case gets weaker and weaker – but has its political justification held up any better?

The project has its vocal supporters, but there are many areas in the North of England which it will not help at all.

Peter Ainsworth: Universities, rather than government, should lend to their students

The savings for the taxpayer could be used to boost training opportunities for other young people.

Lord Ashcroft’s Conference Diary: Are the “true Brexiteers” too Brexity to deliver Brexit?

And: The Defence Secretary denies we need to pick empires. Plus: More publicans needed in politics – and the menace of the anti-meat lobby.

Kevin Hollinrake and Rosalind Beck: Rent controls would hit London hardest

Landlords in the capital already have lower yields than those elsewhere. Who is going to choose to build homes to rent if there is no return on investment?

Kristian Niemietz: How, and how not, to use the ‘V-word’ when debating the Left

Don’t pray Venezuela in aid when trying to counter run-of-the-mill left-wing policies – it cheapens the real case.

Iain Mansfield: We have nothing to fear from No Deal

It would bring with it many compensations, including regulatory freedom, tariff income and £39 billion of cold, hard cash.

Let’s turn Railways Day into Scrap HS2 Day

“How would you feel if we spent the money on local transport links in the Midlands and the north?’’ Gove asked Conservative MPs last year.

Kent County Council’s proposals to keep the traffic flowing after Brexit are welcome

The Government should back these sensible plans. We must avoid a repeat of the disruption on the roads that took place in 2015.

Project Fear Three. Coming your way soon, courtesy of Downing Street?

Obama’s EU referendum intervention didn’t help deliver a Remain result for Cameron. It’s not clear that the Government has learned from the experience.

Davis writes to Conservative MPs, warning of the “dire” electoral consequences of Chequers

“We should…switch to Canada +++ and deliver an outcome that is good for the UK, acceptable to Parliament, and negotiable with Brussels.”

Nicky Morgan: Chequers is dead. And the only plan that MPs will now vote for is Norway.

There is no Commons majority for no deal, for a Canada deal mark two, or at the moment for a second referendum. But there is a majority for EFTA/EEA.

Is May pivoting to Canada?

Prepare for a Rule Britannia defence of Chequers at Party Conference…followed by its junking afterwards, as May is forced towards the most practicable alternative presently on offer.

Daniel Hannan: We no longer need to imagine a free trade deal with the USA – we’ve written one

Our treaty would be the most comprehensive ever. And it rests on mutual recognition, not top-down standardisation.

The ERG dog that didn’t bark in the Johnson-preoccupied night

A rough guide to where some of the pro-Brexit players are on further proposals for Canada Plus Plus Plus – and No Deal.

James Frayne: The voters most enthusiastic about state action on childhood obesity are…Conservative ones

So new research suggests. Private businesses must take at least as much responsibility for this state of affairs as Tory politicians.