The first North Koreans to stand as Conservative candidates help vindicate our democracy

The harrowing personal story of Jihyun Park, followed by her selection as a Tory candidate in Bury, puts current political obsessions in perspective.

From Walpole to Johnson, the rude, original vigour of the Prime Minister and the Commons have survived

A new study by Anthony Seldon of the office of Prime Minister gives too little credit to the many among its 55 holders whom he dismisses as failures.

James Somerville-Meikle: The Conservative Party and the Catholic community can find much common ground

The role of the Duke of Wellington and Robert Peel in bringing about Catholic emancipation in this country provides strong foundations.

Peel increased the burden of taxation on the rich – perhaps Sunak and Johnson will too

Dale’s new volume of brief lives of all 55 Prime Ministers since 1721 brings only some of them to life.

Richard Holden: The Japan trade deal, future CPTPP membership – deliverers of wages, prosperity and work to my Durham constituents.

They can seem remote from the everyday priorities of people here at home. But at its heart, trade is a powerful way to deliver what people really care about.

Police chiefs have unwisely emboldened the mob

Standing by while the law is broken does not make officers, peaceful protesters, members of the public (or statues) any safer.

Daniel Hannan: One man driving to Durham imperils the nation’s health. But lots of protesters in London don’t. Have we all gone mad?

Sitting in a park is selfish, but organising a mass demonstration in a park is wonderful, and schools should still stay closed. Seriously?

When it comes to dealing with its own MPs, this Government is out of its depth

Some of its problems can be fixed. Others won’t be. And one perhaps can’t be: namely, that this Parliament seems to be incapable of saying No.

Disraeli the anti-prig tells us far more about Johnson than Churchill does

Disraeli’s impudence and audacity, demonstrated in this collection of his sayings, cast light on the present Prime Minister’s conduct.

Robert Alden: CCHQ should be relocated to Birmingham

Good quality office space is far cheaper in Birmingham than London, and the quality of life is higher. The West Midlands is full of battleground parliamentary seats.

Matthew Barber: Sticking to Peelite principles of policing

The merits of local policing, embedded in the community, should not be underestimated. Shifting to specialist teams is a mistake.

Andrew Sharpe: Progressive Conservative Reformers 5) We must mine our history to inform our present and dominate our future

If we lack the self-confidence to defend our achievements, how do we seriously expect to be able take the fight to our opponents?

Progressive Conservative reformers 4) Disraeli – and his first and only full term of government

When he declared that “the first consideration of a minister should be the health of the people”, he was beginning to map out an election-winning mass appeal. 

Tobias Ellwood: To flourish, our Party must stay in the centre ground – not march off to the right

We regularly describe ourselves as a broad church – and correctly so. Any alignment with the Brexit Party would see that width of appeal narrowed.

Alan Mak: Conservatism 4.0 – Adapting our Party for the Fourth Industrial Revolution is our greatest challenge

The battlegrounds of the next election, as well as the wider economy, are being shaped by new technology.