WATCH: Philp describes the “difficult and painful process” of controlling public spending

The party’s Vice Chairman for Policy was being pressed on police cuts.

Alan Mak: To be fit for the future, the health service must “axe the fax” – and the pager

These archaic machines cause NHS patients to miss appointments, hospitals to lose records, and cost millions of pounds in paper storage each year.

Rachel Wolf: On policy, it’s not the Independent Group that’s driven to the margins. It’s the Conservative Right.

The new group’s platform is not very inspiring. But its biggest problem is it they won’t be very different from the Conservatives’.

Phillip Lee: The Birmingham prison scandal. And why it’s time to roll back the frontiers of PFI in our public services

We spend £251 billion each year on outsourcing and contracting without evidence that this is a good deal for taxpayers.

Jeremy Hunt: On its 70th anniversary, we must not let the left claim the NHS

Our new, outcome-focused, and patient-centric plans fit into a long tradition of careful Conservative stewardship of the Health Service.

Alex Morton: A win for those spending Ministers would be a defeat for the taxpayer – not just Hammond and Truss

The Comprehensive Spending Review has to be seen as a way to reset the narrative. Government need to focus on reform as a positive – not expenditure.

Rob Wilson: Bold ministers could breathe fresh life into popular capitalism

Some on the left – and perhaps the right too – believe this agenda has run out of runway. Here are a few ideas to get it airborne.

We have not adjusted to what an ageing society means or requires. Green’s speech on social care – full text

“Using their own money would enable older people to take greater control over their care options.”

Chris Whitehouse: From the Isle of Wight, news of a Private Finance Initiative success

A highways partnership deal has resulted in fewer potholes, new street lighting – and saved a million pounds a year.

George Freeman: We need a new Chairman and team at CCHQ to lead a radical programme of Conservative renewal

Let’s have Policy Board outside of the constraints of the Government machine – and a commission on what Britain should look like post-Brexit.

John Godfrey: We should celebrate long life, and adapt social care to it

A dignified old age should be a key legacy of the current Conservative government – here’s how we could make it a reality for everyone.

Bruce Newsome: The key problem with the NHS. Not resources, not culture – but a lack of accountability

The Department of Health must establish its own complaints office, which in turn must be accountable to the Secretary of State and thence to Parliament.

Alex Morton: May’s reform agenda will fail if it is driven from Downing Street alone

Placing every single decision in the hands of a tiny group is not a viable long-term strategy, but a recipe for total (nervous) breakdown.

Andrew Laird: Will it be full speed ahead for English devolution?

The Government has heard the message, and is dropping the mayoral requirement for rural counties seeking increased devolved power.

Andrew Laird: A new Conservative Government can show that fairness is the route to productivity

One place where there is unlikely to be any dithering is the West Midlands. The prospect of someone like Andy Street becoming mayor is hugely exciting.