Brave New World

We fear the worst after Cummings’ departure, but Johnson must now make the best of it. That means a Cabinet shuffle.

Johnson is pressed in the Commons by Tory MPs about an end to shutdown by Christmas

Fox floated a new Parliamentary committee to “determine that decisions across all parts of Government have been taken on the best available evidence”.

Iain Dale: If Milling isn’t up to being Party Chairman, why was she appointed in the first place?

Plus: virtual conferences are the way of the future. America’s vice-presidential debate worked. And: Fox deserved better from his WTO campaign.

WATCH: Fox on his withdrawal from the contest to head the WTO

“It’s been an honour to take part in the selection process, and to make arguments on critical to the future of the trading system.”

A Conservative leader can afford to take on his left or his right – but not the 1922 Committee’s Executive

The Brady amendment is part of the developing story of a clash between leaders and backbenchers over Party management, culture and MPs’ status.

Javid is Chancellor. Tugendhat, Foreign Secretary. May, Home Secretary. Introducing the Alternative Cabinet.

The real one is widely and correctly dismissed as weak.  So we’ve had a go at assembling a stronger team.  Here is the result.

Iain Dale: How many Cabinet members would make your fantasy Cabinet? I count five. And it gets worse…

Plus: incompetence, resignations, non-resignations, reputations, my holiday, Any Questions and Finkelstein’s book.

The Education Secretary must lead school openings in less than a month. Which is why his Department needs new leadership now.

Johnson will almost certainly decide to tough it out. But he will have a big problem if school returns prove tricky.

What would President Biden and Vice President Harris mean for the Special Relationship?

From Brexit, to climate change, to the World Trade Organization, how would this administration align with the UK government?

Jonathan Djanogly: Parliament should be able to scrutinise new trade deals properly. But the current arrangements are unfit for purpose.

Before any deals are signed, MPs should get to vote on them – as will be the case with the other parties.

Rob Sutton: Introducing the top 50 Conservative MPs on Twitter

Four members from the 2019 intake make the top 50, beating longer-serving and higher-ranked colleagues.

Johnson, Starmer – and their strategies in firing people

After the Labour leader sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey, others expect Johnson to be tougher on his adviser and Minister.

The middle way on free and fair trade (and the only practicable one)

People cannot simply be viewed as consumers or producers – there are other dimensions to policy, including the stewardship of the countryside.

WATCH: Fox – “The Chinese Communist Party is doing what most totalitarian states do”

“If China had taken action between one and three weeks earlier, then… cases would have been reduced by somewhere between 65 and 95 per cent.”

Neil Parish: Why my animal welfare amendment should be supported tomorrow

While we should be looking to reduce tariffs, we should not be willing to do so at any price.