Conservative education policy is up for grabs

We trail a mini-series on what might happen next amidst a sense of uncertainty about will follow the Gove reforms.

Mark Lehain: Gove was right to support headteachers over excluded pupils

Halfon is wrong to attribute the rise in school exclusion rates to any disregard for those affected.

WATCH: Halfon – “The Government has to have a radical agenda”

The MP for Harlow argues that Labour is “talking the language of the British people”.

A Budget with a message for Conservative MPs. Nice little seat you have there. Pity if anything happened to it.

In sum, Hammond said: vote for May’s Deal – or the economy gets it. But there’s more than one way of dicing the next election result.

Universal Credit where Universal Credit is due

If the Budget choice this year is between supporting the new system or raising tax thresholds, the answer is a no brainer.

Citizens from Everywhere

It was May’s best conference speech as Conservative leader. But her One Nation pitch could be too late to save her.

Iain Dale’s Top 100 Most Influential People on the Conservative Right

In all, there are 30 new entries in the whole list, one down on last year and two down on the 2016 record of 33.

Let’s make a virtue of necessity – and transform this conference into a festival of creative destruction

This week, the Party has a chance to turn Brexit, a trouble-plagued leadership, and directional uncertainly from problems into an opportunity.

Lord Ashcroft’s Conference Diary: How Leave voters reflect – good humouredly, mostly – on being called knuckle-dragging bigots

Plus: Labour anti-semitism, May’s African dancing. Will Mordaunt speak to the conference? And: will Russia take on NATO?

Joel Charles: The hard left must not be allowed to win the ground war

A clear campaign narrative that balances local and national priorities is crucial. Engage with community groups. Select candidates early. Use social media to complement, not replace, campaigning.

John Bald: It’s time to boost the Further Education sector

It is funded at a lower level than schools, and yet is expected to put right much that has gone wrong. Technical courses need higher esteem.

Spencer Pitfield: I want to be a voice for members on the National Convention

For over twenty years I have campaigned tirelessly to make sure that all volunteers receive the recognition and Party involvement that their selfless efforts deserve.

Claire Ward: If the Conservatives really want to work with trade unions, they will back one in its struggle with Boots

Despite having over 2000 members in Boots (out of 27,000 members across the UK), the PDAU has been denied collective bargaining rights.

Tax reform offers the Government a rare opportunity to make real policy changes

Our mini-series this week revealed points of broad consensus and points of approaching conflict on the centre right in terms of how the tax burden is distributed.

Profile: Damian Hinds – liberal Catholic, social mobility wonk, and new Education Secretary

it is quite conceivable that the Left of the party, casting around for a leadership contest standard bearer, will decide that he fits the bill.