Daniel Hannan: It would be unfair to pupils in England to cancel exams next year

We could, if lost time really is the objection to 2021’s exams going ahead, shorten the Easter holidays and pay teachers a bonus for extra work.

Why Cummings’ departure creates new problems for Johnson’s Brexit strategy

The former Chief Adviser has had little to do with the negotiation recently, but his leaving has knock-on effects on it. Here’s why.

Brave New World

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

Our Cabinet League Table: Sunak is still top, and Johnson is back in positive territory – just

All in all, it’s much of a muchness – with Douglas Ross down by about 25 points, now that his Party Conference coverage has faded.

WATCH: I wasn’t the lockdown leak culprit, says Gove

He doesn’t know who leaked an announcement of a second national lockdown, he told Andrew Marr.

WATCH: Gove admits that the new lockdown could be extended beyond 2 December

“Yes,” the Chancellor of the Duchy says plainly, when pressed on the question by Sophie Ridge.

The Government must publish regular reports on the cost of the virus, restrictions, and this coming lockdown to lives and livelihoods

Our latest survey finds that nine in ten Party members support such a move – a total that this latest news is unlikely to have reduced.

Henry Hill: Tories claim Drakeford has turned Wales into ‘test-bed for left-wing socialist authority’

Also: another miserable week in Government for the SNP; the deep damage of the Irish Protocol grow clearer by the day; and more.

Profile: Liz Truss, Perky promoter of free trade with Japan – and, like Johnson, a disruptor

With her odd mixture of indiscretion and obedience, her contempt for liberal groupthink and love of freedom, she in many ways a useful ally.

Henry Hill: Conservatives explore plans to buy off SNP with… yet more powers

It worked so well the last ten times, after all. Also: Reckless defects to Abolish as controversy over Drakeford’s lockdown – and who’s paying – deepens.

Robert Halfon: We should be pro-private enterprise, anti-mega corporates – which plunder the taxpayer again and again

Plus: Let’s cut VAT on energy bill as soon as we leave transition – deal or no deal. And: first Ardern, then Biden?

WATCH: ‘I want a deal’, says Gove on Brexit, ‘but it takes both sides to compromise’

He is challenged over claims that coronavirus disruption is giving the Government ‘cover’ to pursue a no-deal exit.

Tim Ambler: How to replace quangos

We estimate that streamlining the quango state could mean nearly 34,000 people off the taxpayer payroll, and a saving of £3.25 billion a year.

Ben Roback: Vice-presidential debates usually don’t matter. Tonight’s does – because either contender could be president soon.

With Trump’s health still uncertain and Biden an even older man, Pence v Harris may turn out to be very important indeed.

Our Cabinet League Table. The Prime Minister falls into negative territory.

It’s a rotten springboard from which to vault into Party Conference as it begins today. But what goes down may go back up.