Ryan Bourne: Why is Sunak so taken with tax hikes – when the tax burden is forecast to be its heaviest for 70 years?

Conservative messaging implies an implicit belief that there are no major state functions ripe for reform in any fiscal repair.

FREE ConservativeHome Live event with Daniel Hannan on the future of freedom

What does the future hold for individual liberty, freedom of expression, and private enterprise? Join us for our next event at 7pm on Wednesday 15th July.

Meanwhile, while you were distracted by other events, the Government has nationalised the railways

As for “a limited period”, well, we shall see: as Milton Friedman used to say, nothing is so permanent as a temporary Government programme.

The Labour manifesto: “incredible”/”simply not credible”, “fully costed”/not fully costed

Their manifesto doesn’t provide any costings for their most expensive plans. The IFS says their tax pledge is not believable. But will they get away with it?

WATCH: Labour has businesses thinking ‘we’re next’, says CBI’s Fairbairn

“This programme, which is appearing to value none of the contribution that business makes, will simply shut investment out of our country.”

Chris Whiteside: I’ve worked for BT for over 30 years. Here’s my take on why Labour’s broadband plan would destroy the industy.

It is capitalising on voters who weren’t born in the era of state monopolies having no idea how much worse these companies were under Corbyn’s dinosaur model.

Charlie Edwards: Don’t let the unions lead us off the rails this Christmas

Strikes are causing misery for train passengers. But don’t expect condemnation from Corbynista MPs – they are funded by the RMT.

Robert Halfon: Here’s the Worker’s Budget we need next week

In the second article of our mini-series, the Harlow MP calls for a relentless focus on the cost of living, a skills-based economy, social injustices and affordable housing.

Rebecca Lowe: Nationalisation. Ask not only: would the state do it better? But also – should it be involved at all?

It was darkly funny to see Labour MPs claiming that nationalisation could fix signals failures when track infrastructure is owned and controlled by the state.

WATCH: McDonnell – “The full weight of the Treasury will…take on any vested interest that try to thwart the will of the people”

The Shadow Chancellor praises Corbyn’s “dignity” in the face of “vilification” by the media.

How nationalisation helped to bring about the failure of the East Coast rail franchise

A key reason why the line was unprofitable is that Network Rail failed to deliver improved infrastructure – and it’s already in public hands.

James Frayne: The most effective case against nationalisation is the one that neither MPs nor businesses want to use

The injection of the truth that it would mean politicians in charge of services is enough to make most people see sense.

Nick King: We must demonstrate that capitalism is inherently fair and works in all our interests

If we fail, and usher in a Corbyn government, the price we will all pay does not bear thinking about.

Neil O’Brien: We Conservatives need to refresh ourselves to stop Corbyn. That’s why Onward is being launched.

Even in lefty France, socialist policies are now being dumped by Emmanuel Macron in favour of free markets. Now is the time to develop our next round of big ideas.

James Palmer: Solving the housing crisis needs proper infrastructure – Network Rail is holding us back

This wasteful bureaucratic behemoth is delaying the new stations we need. Conservatives should champion a radical approach with more competition.