Jonathan Simons: Let’s build on the education reforms we worked for – not tear them down

The first in a mini-series of pieces on ConHome this week about schools after Covid.

Neil O’Brien: The view that manufacturing is a relic of the past is itself a relic of the past

It accounts for a larger share of output and a much larger share of productivity growth in poorer regions of the UK

Chris McGovern: School closures are a victory for the unions. What can be done to help the children catch up?

A start can be made by cutting back the forthcoming Easter break and by shortening the summer term holidays.

Ben Monro-Davies: “I think when women cry, often they are angry.” On this day, 30 years ago, Margaret Thatcher resigned

At the final meeting of her Cabinet, a revived Iron Lady told members, during a coffee break, that “on no account must Heseltine be elected”

Our survey. Is the Cabinet, which must wrestle with the Coronavirus, fit for purpose?

Four in five of our party member respondents say yes. Hunt is top choice to come in from outside – but there’s no strong support for any non-member.

Budget 1) This was less a Conservative Budget than “the People’s Budget”. From a Vote Leave Government – not the usual Tory one.

It may be necessary, given the Coronavirus, and could even work. But Britain has a long, long record of state spending failing to turbo-charge growth.

Neil O’Brien: Fifty shades of conservatism

It’s a bit like the roof of Parliament’s Westminster Hall: which is held up by a lot of huge, ancient beams all resting on each other.

Robert Halfon: Thatcherism was wrong. We need to build social as well as economic capital. Including in our schools.

Educational traditionalists are wrong to believe that if we focus on academic rigour and high standards alone, everything else will fall into place.

Iain Dale: As I prepared for my Question Time debut, I heard that Diane Abbott had pulled out. Was it something I said?

Plus: May in trouble and Rudd in danger over Windrush. Corbyn stumbles. The pound rises. Local elections loom. And: the dignity of Neville Lawrence.

London’s local elections. Beware of spin.

The capital isn’t a single political entity. Rather, it is still in some ways a Napoleon-of-Notting-Hill-style mass of small towns.

John Bald: Progressive educationalists ignore how the brain works

The evidence of improved standards shows that a knowledge-rich curriculum is the best way to enable each person to achieve the best of which he or she is capable.

Technical education. Who’s right – Gove or Baker?

The reality is that most of it will be concentrated on pupils older than 16 – whatever the best age may be at which to select.

Cameron, radical punk – how he should want to be remembered

The recently departed Prime Minister is re-emerging – and working on his memoirs. He will want to project his greatest achievement: public service reform.

Andrew Kennedy: Home lessons in why democracy matters from Latin America

I hope that in the electoral battle that lies ahead ahead, a fresh-faced volunteer will stand on the streets of Quito, and pose questions in a refined Liverpool accent.

Andrew Kennedy: Who were the best Conservative Party Chairmen in modern times?

Lord Woolton (pictured right) was the greatest-ever, rebuilding the Conservatives after the war. But here are my favourite five.