Ideas for the Budget 1) Peter Franklin: Wanted. A Marshall Plan for housing’s excluded generation.

To reduce investment in infrastructure or R&D is to take away from the future – just as surely as running up unsustainable debt does.

Peter Walker: Ill-judged PR stunts undermine public respect for the police

At a time of budget cuts, mounting pressure, and waning deference to authority, officers deserve better than headlines like these.

WATCH: Mercer – “After Brexit there is an increased role for the Armed Forces, and we’ve got to fund it”

“We need to talk about as a party what we look like after Brexit, and I hope that veterans’ care and being a party of defence means something.”

Dan Dolan: Britain’s secretive assistance to abusive foreign security forces must end

If the Government is serious about having this country be a ‘moral leader’, it must be more transparent about dealings which may compromise our values.

The case for a moratorium on Scottish independence

If part of the country can walk out on its responsibilities to the rest at any time, fundamental functions of the Union will cease to operate.

Howard Flight: Today’s Mayite Conservatives have embraced a socialist ethic – with wishy-washy, opportunistic policies.

Mercifully, there remain a few Thatcherites, even in the Cabinet, who believe in the power of liberty, responsibility, commerce and voluntary action.

Lord Ashcroft: The general election. How the Conservatives damaged their reputation for competence without gaining one for compassion.

Nearly everything believed to exercise Labour more than the Tories was also named more often as a priority for “me and my family” than for Britain as a whole.

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.

Lord Ashcroft: My public sector pay poll finds large majorities for lifting the cap

Most Labour voters think their party should support strike action if pay demands are not met, and most voters think private sector wages are higher.

Liam Booth-Smith: The lifting of the public sector pay cap is bad policy and worse politics

Ministers should remain focused on delivering on their promise to cut the deficit, even if it means paying the iron price to do so.

Howard Flight: So who’s to blame for our productivity problems? Step forward, Gordon Brown

Between 1997 and 2005, public sector spending rose from £336 billion to £517 billion a year. But its output has increased little, so its productivity has fallen dramatically.

Richard Ritchie: Was the election result really such a disaster for the Conservatives?

By 2022, Corbyn will no longer look ‘new’, and that he came close to winning in 2017 should mean that he will then be exposed to far greater scrutiny,

There are also political risks for the Government to agreeing an “exit fee” to the EU

Most people would resent any payments after we cease being members.

WATCH: Davis says Britain will honour ‘moral obligations’ to the EU

“Nobody will pretend it was anything but a tough exchange this week, but I think the British taxpayer would expect nothing less.”

Fred Kearey: Our mental healthcare system needs urgent reform

It will take a strong political will and much reforming zeal to make the ‘Cinderella service’ meet the needs of young and vulnerable people.